What Day Is August 28? 'I Have a Dream' Speech (1963)
August 28 is the 240th day of the year. In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his 'I Have a Dream' speech to 250,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial. St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the greatest theologians in history, died on August 28, 430.
About August 28
August 28 is the 240th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (241st in a leap year). There are 125 days remaining until the end of the year.
The significance of August 28
On August 28, 1963, roughly 250,000 people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Martin Luther King Jr. was near the end of his planned remarks when gospel singer Mahalia Jackson called out from behind him, “Tell them about the dream, Martin!” He put down his notes. What followed, the “I have a dream” section, was largely improvised. King spoke of a day when his children would be judged not by their skin color but by the content of their character. The 1964 Civil Rights Act passed less than a year later. St. Augustine of Hippo died on this date in 430, as Vandal forces besieged his city. His opening line in the Confessions reads: “Our heart is restless, until it repose in Thee.” Goethe was born August 28, 1749.
Get this day by email
We'll remind you of August 28 every year.
On This Day in History
- 430St. Augustine of Hippo died at Hippo Regius (modern Algeria) during the Vandal siege of the city. His Confessions and City of God remain foundational texts of Western thought.
- 1963Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the 'I Have a Dream' speech at the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington. The planned speech was partly abandoned mid-delivery when King improvised the 'I have a dream' section.
Baby Names for This Day
August 28 is the feast of St. Augustine and the anniversary of the 'I Have a Dream' speech. Names connected to this date:
- AugustineBoy
St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430), Doctor of the Church, died August 28, 430; author of 'Confessions' and 'City of God'.
- MartinBoy
Martin Luther King Jr., who delivered 'I Have a Dream' to 250,000 people on August 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial.
- LutherBoy
King's given name honored the German reformer; both Luthers reshaped their worlds through words.
- WolfgangBoy
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, born August 28, 1749; author of Faust and The Sorrows of Young Werther.
- CorettaGirl
Coretta Scott King stood beside Martin at the march; she continued advocating for civil rights for 40 years after his death.
- LincolnBoy
The 'I Have a Dream' speech was delivered at the Lincoln Memorial; Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation 100 years before.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is August 28?add
August 28 is the day Martin Luther King Jr. delivered 'I Have a Dream' (1963). St. Augustine of Hippo died (430). Goethe was born (1749). The feast of St. Augustine. The 240th day of the year.
What number day of the year is August 28?add
August 28 is the 240th day of the year, or the 241st in a leap year, with 125 days remaining.
What zodiac sign is August 28?add
August 28 is Virgo, which runs from August 23 to September 22.