May 31

Founded in New York City on May 31, 1909, the National Negro Committee brought together leading African American activists to address rampant racial discrimination and violence. Spearheaded by figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Mary White Ovington, the committee sought to promote civil rights through legal challenges and public advocacy. This inaugural meeting marked the beginning of a sustained campaign against lynching, segregation, and voter suppression. Within two years, the group would adopt the name National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), becoming one of America's most influential civil rights organizations. Their efforts laid the foundation for major legal victories and set the stage for the broader civil rights movement of the mid-20th century.

On the night of May 31, 1921, a violent white mob invaded the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma, known as "Black Wall Street." The assault, sparked by a disputed incident, led to widespread looting, arson, and shootings. Official records cite at least 39 Black fatalities, though survivors and historians estimate up to 300 deaths. Over 1,000 homes and businesses were burned, displacing thousands and decimating one of the era’s most affluent Black communities. The massacre remained largely unacknowledged for decades but highlights the extreme racial violence of early 20th-century America.

On May 31, 1955, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in Brown v. Board of Education II, directing that schools across the nation desegregate "with all deliberate speed." This follow-up decision aimed to guide lower federal courts and local school districts in implementing the 1954 unanimous decision that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The Court recognized the complex challenges of dismantling entrenched segregation and called for district-by-district integration plans. Despite its strong language, the ambiguous timeline allowed many jurisdictions to delay meaningful action. Nevertheless, Brown II laid the legal groundwork for future civil rights enforcement and federal intervention. It underscored the judiciary’s commitment to ending racial discrimination in public education and inspired further legislative and social efforts during the Civil Rights Movement.

On May 31, 1971, the United States celebrated Memorial Day on its new date—the last Monday in May—for the first time, following the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed in 1968. The legislation aimed to provide uniform long weekends for federal holidays, standardizing observance and promoting travel and leisure. Prior to this change, Memorial Day had been fixed on May 30 regardless of the day of the week. The move drew both praise for creating consistent holiday schedules and criticism from traditionalists who favored the historical date. Over time, the Monday holiday became widely accepted, helping Memorial Day evolve into a three-day national weekend. Today, the shift is often credited with boosting the American travel and tourism industry while preserving the day’s commemorative purpose.

Mark Felt, previously Deputy Associate Director of the FBI, was unmasked on May 31, 2005, by Vanity Fair as 'Deep Throat,' the anonymous source behind The Washington Post’s Watergate reporting. His tips in the early 1970s were crucial in exposing President Nixon’s involvement in the cover-up. Felt’s identity had remained one of America’s most enduring political mysteries for over three decades. The magazine’s exclusive interview detailed his motivations, risks undertaken, and reflections on the scandal’s impact. The revelation shed new light on investigative journalism’s role in holding power to account. It also sparked debates about whistleblower protections and sources’ anonymity in journalism.