KEEP the name Blackboy Road

KEEP the name Blackboy Road
Why this petition matters

There's a petition to change the name of Blackboy Road in Exeter. This must not happen.
Those demanding the council change the name say it comes from a "racist nickname" for the King Charles II who may have had a darker complexion, judging by his official portraits and writings from the time. Today, we acknowledge the past could be a shockingly racist place and move on in a more equal and liberal society.
Changing Exeter's street names for political correctness would be an Orwellian re-writing of history. It would set a dangerous precedent. At what point does it stop? The statue outside Exeter College is of a man who put people in concentration camps during the Boer War. Could that be removed?
There are pragmatic, as well as principled reasons not to change the name as well. Our council tax should be spent on practical things such as bin collections and infrastructure, not removing and replacing road signs because someone applies offence. Changing the road name could also cause confusion.
Trust matters in politics and Exeter City Council should trust the emotional intelligence of local people. Offence is subjective and most people will walk on by. I have experienced racist abuse, as have my friends and we should not conflate those experiences with someone choosing to get offended by a road. Let's sign the petition to ensure the local authorities make the right decision!