James R. Mapp first learned how the system of segregation worked in the south when at the age of 10 he witnessed a white man demand and take his grandpa's farm and horse after hearing they were moving to Chattanooga, Tennessee. The irony was that grandpa did not owe the man anything, but as a black man, he knew that the authorities would not intervene. This incident and others would have a great bearing on Mapp's future endeavors.Mapp exhibited leadership potential early on while at Howard High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He later attended A&I State College (Tennessee State University) where he was elected vice president of the freshman class.After meeting his future wife, Viola, at Tennessee State, Mapp returned to Chattanooga where he quickly became involved in local issues of discrimination and the injustices suffered by his people. Among other pursuits, he was a leader in the church, cub scouts, PTA and an entrepreneur. A dedicated family man, James and Viola were parents of 8 children. Their strong bond as a couple helped them to thrive as a family while committing themselves to the fight for equal rights.President of the local NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) for a total of 26 years, James took on the challenge to desegregate Chattanooga's public schools. The court case was said to be the longest running active desegregation suit in the country. He played a major role in opening opportunities for African Americans in jobs, housing, politics, access to public accommodations, and many other areas.James R. Mapp received many accolades over the years for his community service, leadership, humanitarianism, and civil rights. He was honored by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga by renaming the James R. Mapp State Office building when it was acquired by UT. Home to physical and occupational therapy majors, the “James R. Mapp Building” fittingly sits on a hill overlooking Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.In his late 70’s Mapp started the pursuit of his goal to capture the history of Chattanooga and race relations. He first learned to use the computer then partnered with Dr. Barbara Medley, professor at UT Chattanooga, to research Chattanooga’s history and write his memoir. Mapp strongly believed that if not written down, people would soon forget the hard work and sacrifices of the civil rights struggle. He especially wanted to instill racial pride in young people for what African Americans have endured and achieved.Mapp died on June 19, 2015 after completing his manuscript. Although the Emancipation Proclamation announced the end of slavery on January 1, 1863, Negroes in the south continued to be enslaved for two more years. "Juneteenth" is celebrated by the African American community to commemorate the actual end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865.Juneteenth signaled the end of Mapp's life but his rich legacy lives on.Read more about this authorRead less about this author