What's in a name. . . and for whom? How public spaces named for prejudiced individuals impact targets of prejudice.

This article investigates how public spaces named after historically prejudiced figures affect feelings of hostility, safety, and belonging among targets of prejudice—specifically Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and Jewish individuals—compared to nontargets. Across six studies involving U.S. university students, findings show that all participants report greater harms in spaces commemorating prejudiced individuals, but these harms are significantly exacerbated among targets, partly because such space names are perceived as signals of community beliefs endorsing prejudice. Additionally, targets tend to be more skeptical than White participants about the sincerity and effectiveness of renaming initiatives aimed at mitigating these harms. The research highlights the psychological impact of symbolic prejudice in public commemorations and suggests that genuine, transparent renaming efforts are important for fostering inclusion and reducing harm to marginalized groups.