Berlin's Mohrenstraße has been renamed Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Straße.
In a significant move, the Berlin Transport Authority (BVG) has renamed the U-Bahn station and the adjacent street from Mohrenstraße to Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Straße over the weekend. The change, which was the result of a long-standing legal process, honours a scholar from West Africa who lived and worked in the 18th century.
The U-Bahn station signs were updated with the new name during an operational break overnight on Wednesday. Workers also installed the new street name signs, and the new name was symbolically unveiled at a ceremony over the weekend. However, the former name, Mohrenstraße, will continue to appear in the new signage until the end of the year.
The BVG is responsible for the U-Bahn station and has updated its signs with the new name. By the timetable change in mid-December, the new station name will also be printed in the company's analog information media. The digital route information on the BVG has been updated to include a reference to the old street name, Mohrenstraße.
The district and several initiatives pushed for the renaming of Mohrenstraße, as the term "Mohr" is considered racist. The new name, Anton Wilhelm Amo, honours a man who was the first known black philosopher and jurist at German universities.
Despite the new signs being in place, the former name will still be displayed until the end of the year. At the timetable change in mid-December, the reference to the former street name will also be removed from the BVG's information media. The old name "Mohrenstraße" was removed from the analog information media of the BVG and replaced with "Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Straße" during the night following the weekend rename event.
This renaming of Mohrenstraße to Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Straße marks a significant step towards a more inclusive cityscape in Berlin. The new name serves as a reminder of the city's rich history and its commitment to diversity and equality.
