August 28th
A film about ordinary people who found themselves living in extraordinary moments.
Visionary filmmaker Ava DuVernay honors the historic and cultural significance of six events in African American history which all occurred on the same date.
A number of historic events have taken place on one date over the years:
- The passing of the UK Slavery Abolition Act was on August 28, 1833
- The lynching of Emmett Till was on August 28, 1956
- The release of Motown’s first No. 1 single, the Marvelette’s “Please Mr Postman,” was on August 28, 1961
- Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech was on August 28, 1965
- The landfall of Hurricane Katrina was on August 28, 2005
- Barack Obama’s acceptance speech as Democratic nomination for president was on August 28, 2008
The Mystery of August 28
DuVernay was commissioned by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture to create the film which debuted at the museum’s opening on September 24, 2016. The film played daily at the Museum throughout its first year.
The documentary covers a century of Black progress, protest, passion, and perseverance. The film gives historical perspective within the creative framework of one date that has had a profound effect on America.
August 28: A Day in the Life of a People by Ava DuVernay trailer.
The film premiered in 2016 on the OWN channel. It is currently not available to watch.
August 28: A Day in the Life of People stars Don Cheadle, Regina King, André Holland, David Oyelowo, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Lupita Nyong’o, and Angela Bassett.
