Prologue In this book I will talk about many of the decisions I have made in life and the outcome of each. It is about reflections, the roads I have traveled, the people I have become friends with, the acquaintances that were made, the bonds that were built along the way and the relation- ships that were broken. It is the story of the love that came from my family through all of my missteps, no matter how far I ventured off the path set for me at birth. I will share with you my personal relationship with God and His purpose for my life at its current position. I realize, though, that His purpose is filtered through my own decisions, because He truly gives us the gift of choice. As you travel through these pages, I will reveal to you my issues of self-determination and how I discovered what it is I wanted out of life. Equally important are the dreams and aspirations that took me there. It is also the story of the examination of the commitment to purpose that drove me to succeed, and the betrayal of good decisions that brought me down to my lowest points. The issues of diversity, cultural bias and the racism I faced in my personal as well as corporate life also play a strong role in this tale. You will become aware of the trials and tribulations that filled many days, months and years on my road to successful realization of the value of my creative talent and the gifts God has given me in order to become triumphant. From my birth to my adventures you will pass through various doors with many names, dates and places. The results will be amazing at some moments, while in the next there will be sadness and pain. Through it all, I can only hope you find your own self-value. But this much I do know, in the end you can only become what you have inside. "My road to recovery will not be as long as my fall from grace."
About the Author: About the Author: Born in Chicago, Illinois, Don S. McClure was the last son of parents born in the Southern Regions of America, in Birmingham Alabama, and New Orleans Louisiana. The majority of his life has been spent creating ideas and presentations that show the history of individuals and the ideals that helped to shape the world-and that perhaps change the way African American history is viewed. As a child, his imagination shaped the world in which he lived-and survived. His constant search for answers to the questions of life became an early obsession that often times set him running in a maze of continual curiosity; this usually ended in punishment or some form of scars and cuts, but always yielded an answer to his question. Years of relationship-building consumed his life as he traveled to various cities. His early professional career record is filled with successes that very few young people ever have the chance to enjoy. His true love of adventure spurred his decision, while living in the City of Memphis, to build the largest Black History-Diversity Web site in America: www.donsmcclureconsultants.net, which set the stage for his numerous projects to come. On October 28, 1994, his first children's coloring book, The Little Cat that Slept, was registered in the Library of Congress. The book series begins with titles that show his passion for creating stories that can be used in classrooms to inspire children. Titles such as Mansa: the Legend of Evil Begins have mesmerized students, as the vivid images evolve of War Lords, Kings, and Emperors in the great battles in Africa between good and evil. Other titles, such as The Strange Animal's Birthday Party, The Little Cat and the Magical Island, The Little Cat and the Lost City, and The Little Cat and the Golden Mountain, each based on the geography of the African Continent and the animals that live there, have thrilled children and adults alike. Today, McClure has decided to spend the rest of his time on earth as an Author, commencing with the release of this autobiography.