It is 150 years since African Americans were given citizenship and the right to vote, 100 years since women got the vote in the US and UK, 60 years after the Civil Rights Acts, 50 years since the last wave of decolonisation, 55 years since homosexuality was legalised in Britain. But racism, sexism, homophobia, and the oppressive legacy of colonialism, don't appear to be disappearing anytime soon, and are arguably getting worse.
Is it an illusion to imagine that dominant cultures can escape the injustices of the past, or fully excise their legacy in the present? Or, while acknowledging our history should we place greater stress on the positive aspects of our culture? Or can we rise to the challenge of building a new identity of which we can all be proud?