State Board of Pardons and Paroles Board Member Braxton T. Cotton paid a visit to his alma mater in January. Cotton was invited to the college as keynote speaker for the school’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ceremony.
During his visit, Cotton met with both the junior college and prep-school cadets where he shared words of wisdom and pertinent advice on professional growth and development.
Cotton is a 2002 graduate of Georgia Military College (GMC) where he earned an associate degree in criminal justice.
When reflecting on his educational experience at GMC and the impact it’s had on his personal and professional life, Cotton says, “[It] offers great training and mentoring opportunities for young men and women who will one day be responsible for demonstrating leadership equally in both the civilian and military professions. During my time at GMC, I learned the importance of responsibility, accountability and character.”
In his speech, Cotton said the decisive point for progress made in civil rights in this country was the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“Since 1964, there has been more progress in racial equality than any other time in U.S. history and at its center is Dr. Martin Luther King,” Cotton said.
Cotton told the cadets to dream but also to have a plan, as did Dr. King.
“Dr. King had a DREAM of how he thought things should be; equal treatment for all, regardless of race, color or creed. But not only did he have a DREAM, he formulated a strategy and a PLAN,” Cotton said.
Cotton says Dr. King enacted that plan with other civil rights leaders which involved nonviolent social change through multiple rallies, boycotts, sit-ins, marches and demonstrations.
Cotton says this was a well thought out and planned action to highlight the social injustices of the day.
“This was an organized PLAN to achieve the DREAM,” Cotton added.
4
cotton honors MLK