August 28 through History

Explanation: This speech was delivered during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, in front of about 250,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial. King had initially prepared a different text, but improvised a large part of the 'I have a dream' passage on the advice of singer Mahalia Jackson.

Explanation: Although enacted on August 28, 1833, the actual abolition was gradual: former slaves first became 'apprentices' until 1838. The British government compensated slave owners to the tune of 20 million pounds sterling, a debt repaid only in 2015 by British taxpayers.

Explanation: Enceladus, a moon of Saturn about 500 km in diameter, is today considered one of the most promising places to search for extraterrestrial life. The Cassini probe confirmed in 2005 the existence of water geysers escaping from its south pole, revealing a liquid ocean beneath its icy surface.

Explanation: The Ramstein accident, in West Germany, involved three aircraft from the Italian aerobatic display team 'Frecce Tricolori'. A mid-air collision caused one aircraft to crash into the crowd. This event led to a thorough revision of airshow regulations across Europe, particularly regarding safety distances between aircraft and spectators.

Explanation: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, born in Frankfurt am Main, is considered the greatest writer in the German language. Besides Faust, he wrote The Sorrows of Young Werther, which triggered a wave of copycat suicides across Europe, a phenomenon known today in psychology as the Werther effect.

Explanation: Satoshi Tajiri is the creator of the Pokémon franchise, launched in 1996 on Game Boy. His inspiration came from his childhood passion for collecting insects. Diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, Tajiri turned his social difficulties into a creative drive, designing a game built on trading and connection between players. Pokémon is today the most lucrative entertainment franchise in history.

Explanation: Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black teenager from Chicago, was brutally murdered in Mississippi after being accused of whistling at a white woman. His mother, Mamie Till, chose to display her son's open casket at the funeral, shocking the entire world. Rosa Parks said she was thinking of Emmett Till the evening she refused to give up her seat on a bus, a few months later.

Explanation: Nice was liberated on August 28, 1944, a few days after the Provence landings (Operation Dragoon) on August 15. The liberation of Nice was largely the work of local French Forces of the Interior and American and French troops moving up the Rhône valley. The city had been occupied by the Italians until 1943, then by the Germans.

Explanation: Anders Gärderud won the gold medal in the 3000 metres steeplechase at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, setting a new world record with a time of 8 min 08 s 02. The steeplechase is a track and field event combining long-distance running with fixed barriers and a water jump, over a distance of 3000 metres.

Explanation: Oasis disbanded on 28 August 2009 after a violent argument between Liam and Noel Gallagher backstage at the Rock en Seine festival in France. Noel announced his departure a few hours before the concert. The band, famous for their albums 'Definitely Maybe' and '(What's the Story) Morning Glory?', eventually reformed in 2024, announcing a highly anticipated world tour.