Carlisle Loveless is a Black male whose life’s experiences, strengths and hope have led him to the profession of an urban educator. To him it’s his calling.

Carlisle’s journey is that of your typical Black male growing up in an urban area of the sixties and seventies. The Civil Rights Movement of the sixties inspired Carlisle to get an education and set his dreams high. The seventies injected seeds of rebellion and threw Carlisle off track a bit but allowed him to experience the world, gain the focus and discipline he lacked to continue his journey towards the goals he had once set for himself. His journey zigzags and wanes at times. Because of his spiritual strength, his higher power calls him to the classrooms of urban America where he impacts the lives of young people. More importantly, the students impact the life of Carlisle.

The author, Craig Randolph, grew up and was educated in East St. Louis, Illinois. Both his parents were educators and taught Craig to work hard, be spiritual and get an education. He was an excellent student throughout high school but because of his confusion, anger and sadness at the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, President John F. Kennedy and his brother, Bobby, Craig got off track and chose to do things his way. He had opportunities to attend schools like Cornell University, Washington University and the University of Illinois. Cornell chose to attend the HBCU Tennessee State University after his father had taken him to see a Black college football classic. After seeing and feeling the energy of the crowd, the bands and the majorettes, it was a no brainer! Craig was sold! The pride and the love he felt and saw that day was all he needed. He attended TSU for several years and made lifelong friends and relationships. After attending Tennessee State, he enlisted into the Navy for six years where he experienced a totally different type of education. He learned discipline and focus as he traveled the world. His travels took him all over the Pacific and Indian Oceans. He visited many countries in Africa and Asia. With his wife Carolyn, a TSU graduate and Delta flight attendant, along with his son Charleton, he has traveled to many countries in Europe, the Caribbean and South America. The author has two adult daughters, Shalonda and Esha. He relocated to California after graduating from Morehouse College where he worked for several defense companies and taught for a year in South Central Los Angeles. Morehouse was the school where Dr. King attended and Craig was honored to have that opportunity. He and his wife moved back East to raise their son and be closer to both parents. It was in Memphis where Craig began to teach. He received his Masters in Education from the University of Mississippi with hours towards his doctorate. Currently, the author and his family reside on his wife’s family land in Mississippi. After all his traveling, God chose to place Craig in the once hate-filled state of Mississippi where James Meredith integrated the segregated University of Mississippi. Craig is humbled and honored to graduate from the schools of two of his heroes.