Why do certain monuments, streets, and other public spaces in Berlin go by the names of colonizers, fascists, and war criminals? How do we deal with names and places that are manifestations of a past shaped by racism, sexism, and classism?

We are “Straßenlärm” – an initiative eager to bring awareness to the remembrance culture in Berlin’s cityscape. We are researching the vestiges of colonial, fascist, und patriarchal power structures appearing in public spaces and are continually visualizing them on our interactive map of the city. Our goal is to showcase the entirety of problematic historiography that is still being used in public signage, memorials, and commemorations and thus engage in a thoughtful debate with the history of Berlin and its culture of remembrance. In addition, we want to draw attention to the long-standing activist and academic work of anti-discriminatory initiatives in Berlin whose publications have informed our work.