Berlin renaming: Mohrenstrasse becomes Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Strasse!

Berlin renaming: Mohrenstrasse becomes Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Strasse!

In the heart of Berlin there is news that sparks discussions! The Mitte district has decided to rename Mohrenstraße. The Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court has now confirmed this decision, which means that the new signs can soon be put up. The renaming is not an arbitrary decision, but the result of a thorough legal review, which was already clearly confirmed by the administrative court in the first instance. A resident's appeal was dismissed and the verdict is now final. The court made it clear that there were no doubts about the legality of the ruling, as [rnd.de](https://www.rnd.de/panorama/berlin-mohrenstrasse-darf-umbenannt- Werden-MO34KDFR2NI3DACNJ2RTOJFPNU.html) reported.

The renaming of Mohrenstrasse is considered necessary not only by city planners, but also by many citizens. The district, which is led by the Green Party, describes the name “Mohrenstrasse” as problematic and possibly racist. Those responsible have chosen Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Straße as the new name, named after an 18th century scholar of African descent who is known for his educational work.

Legal disputes and public opinion

But not all residents agree with this decision. Some of them sued against the renaming, arguing that the original name was not meant to be racist but had an appreciative meaning. However, these lawsuits were rejected by the administrative court in July 2023 and the decision was ultimately confirmed by the court. The ongoing process and passionate debate surrounding this street renaming is part of a larger trend that is also affecting other cities in Germany, as [spiegel.de](https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/berlin-mohrenstrasse-darf-umbenannt- Werden-a-10946363-58ba-4b63-92c2-3b93c971fa1f) makes clear.

As the debates about street names in Berlin show, there are often arguments about the historical meaning and context of the names. Sometimes what was once considered unproblematic is no longer acceptable today. Historical contexts are often not sufficiently taken into account, which leads to tensions and protests. The discussion about Uncle Tom Street can serve as an example, the original intention of which is now seen both as a monument to the novel and in a derogatory manner, as can be read on zeit.de. Such developments show how important it is to take a differentiated look at the past.

The discussion about Mohrenstrasse is only a small part of a larger issue that is current in many cities and communities. It will be interesting to see how these debates develop in the future and which streets could be next on the list for renaming. It is clear that public opinion plays a crucial role in these processes and ensures that issues such as racism and colonial history are always in focus.