Historical basis for street names

[TheArtist]

  Yes I can imagine that most people, famous or not, in the past had beliefs and actions that we would find repugnant today.  

I suppose one way to "sort them out" might be to ask "Where were they on the spectrum of beliefs and actions compared to other people in their time and place?"  as in Were their beliefs or actions "acceptable" or not atypical, for the time and place they lived in?

Then the next questions might be "In the totality of their beliefs and actions, did they further or advance goodness in the world, or, did they rise above their time and place in an exceptional way that made a positive contribution to their society and humanity?"  

The questions could I am sure use some finesse but you get the gist.
Still not going to be an easy thing to answer in some cases, but perhaps its a start.

[heironymouspasparagus]

We can waste a lot of time and energy re-naming things which remind us of our ignorant or hurtful past or we can see the names and let them remind us of how far we have not come as humankind.

Fixed it for you.

Mostly I agree with you - as distressing as you may find that.  We absolutely MUST keep our knowledge and sense of history - and keep it honestly! - as I ranted about for years.  We haven't done that in a classroom or church environment, so is the public space the only place we will pay attention??  It's a real cluster...

[heironymouspasparagus]

Tecumseh conspired with the British against the American government, Sheridan massacred non-combatant civilians and is synonymous with the "scorched earth" warfare tactic, having a "King" and "Queen" street is just absolutely treasonous, and "Virgin" flat out pornographic.

Offended yet?   

You owe me an apology...!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5BdBfhliwM