Who was Carl Peters? Why do ten streets in Berlin still pay tribute to German colonialism? With what intention was the “African Quarter” in Berlin Wedding created?
These questions are addressed in the dossier “Re-reading the City – Colonial and Racist Street Names in Berlin”, which was published in 2016 by the Berlin Development Policy Council (BER) and the Initiative Black People in Germany (ISD).
“Berlin was a German colonial metropolis: it was here that the Africa Conference was held in 1884/85 and the Colonial Exhibition with its “Völkerschau” in Treptower Park in 1896. It was from here that the German colonies were annexed, administered and governed, and it was here that the National Socialists planned a new colonial empire in Africa. Accordingly, many colonial traces can still be found in Berlin, on street signs, monuments or building facades.”
‘Re-reading the City – Dossier on Colonial and Racist in Berlin’ provides information on colonial namesakes and their crimes, lists renamings in other cities, and submits ideas for alternative namesakes*.”
“Street names that honor colonial criminals or perpetuate racism in public space are everyday testimonies to Berlin’s colonial present. The renaming of these streets reverses the perspective on history: Those who resisted colonialism and racism become role models. And so the study of colonial street names is an invitation to re-read the city.” Description of the editorship
The editors of the dossier demand the renaming of 10 Berlin streets after persons of the anti-colonial resistance. In addition, 24 colonial street names in public space will be critically commented.
The brochure can be ordered from the Berlin Development Policy Council (BER) under this link .