Mohrentrasse Street Renaming in Berlin

This case study examines the renaming process of the street ‘Mohrenstraße’ to Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Straße and its corresponding underground train station in Berlin, Germany. The decision to rename came after several years of debate and initiatives from various societal actors and academics, who stressed the racist character of the word ‘Mohr’ in ‘Mohrenstraße.’ The renaming is intended as a sign against racism and a tribute to Anton Wilhelm Amo, the first known German legal scholar and philosopher of African descent, and the first person of colour to attend a European university. The renaming process signifies an important, albeit small step in a more significant debate about Germany’s colonial past.