While August 28th is just another day on the calendar for some, it represents a moment of great historical significance shared across generations of Black people in America. The colliding sequence of events that occurred through the years on August 28th may appear coincidental, but that makes them no less noteworthy or important. The date has historically brought both triumph and sadness for the African-American community and has transformed into what should be a day of remembrance not only for Black people, but for us all.

The date has historically brought both triumph and sadness for the African-American community and has transformed into what should be a day of remembrance not only for Black people, but for us all.  
 

It was on this day in 1833 that the United Kingdom abolished slavery, prompting a trickle-like effect across many other countries and eventually the United States. In a horrific fluke of fate, on August 28th, 1955, a Black, fourteen-year-old boy named Emmet Till was murdered during a time of extreme racial tension and injustice in America.  

The date became further destined for continual significance as the nation looked on while Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech on August 28th, 1963. Pivotal to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, King, Jr.’s historic oration still evokes an emotional response, inspiring us to make our country a better place for everyone, united not only in thought and ideas, but in our hearts. 

Over the last two decades, August 28th again marked catastrophic devastation echoed by powerful change. On this day in 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane, destroying homes, leveling communities, taking lives, and displacing a significant population of Black people in New Orleans, Louisiana. Black Americans were and remain disproportionately affected by Hurricane Katrina, making up approximately two-thirds of evacuees from the area—their livelihoods, families, and homes literally washed away. 

And yet, in what seemed to some a light at the end of the tunnel, on August 28th, 2008, then-senator Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination to become the first Black president of the United States of America. A collective smile came into focus on the faces of young, hopeful Black boys and girls, Black teens roiled by not knowing what to do “when they grow up,” and Black elders who never thought they would witness the day—someone who looked like them was months away from election to the most powerful position in America.

We must acknowledge that the 28th of August represents a pivotal date for Black Americans.

These iconic events remind us of humanity’s resilience, of the power of social and political action, and of the work we need to do as a country to ensure equality for those historically deprived of it.

These iconic events remind us of humanity’s resilience, of the power of social and political action, and of the work we need to do as a country to ensure equality for those historically deprived of it. Mindbody recognizes this day because it impacts not only members of our team but also our customers and consumers. Together, we are on a journey of learning and sharing the stories that have shaped us as a society. Understanding the impact of this day on our past positions us to be better and stronger for whatever challenges our unity next. This year, as we commemorate August 28th, let’s hope that it brings wellness, love, and a unified recognition of the lived experiences of our Black family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors.