Berlin Renames Controversial ‘Moors’ Street After African Philosopher

Berlin has officially renamed Mohrenstrasse, long criticized for its racist connotations, to Anton Wilhelm Amo Street in honor of the 18th-century African philosopher who became the first Black scholar to teach at a German university.

The renaming, announced at a public ceremony in the city’s central Mitte district, coincided with the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade, underlining its symbolic significance.

Activists and community groups, led by organizations like Decolonize Berlin, had pushed for the change for more than 30 years, arguing the old name reinforced a colonial legacy rooted in racism.

Amo, born around 1700 in what is now Ghana, was taken to Germany as a child, where he rose to prominence during the Enlightenment. He studied at prestigious universities including Halle and Jena, and his story is now being used as a symbol of resistance, self-affirmation, and knowledge in the African diaspora.

While some local residents opposed the change and filed legal challenges, Berlin courts ultimately allowed it to proceed. Supporters say the renaming is not just about one street, but about rethinking how Europe commemorates history in its public spaces.