Cotton Mathis: Journey to Memphis

by Cecilia Clanton

Cotton Mathis is a young man alone in the world. Devastated after the loss of his mother, the young farmhand must now deal with the death of his brother in Vietnam and his alcoholic father’s suicide. Isolated and angry, Cotton wrestles his demons, including the suspicion his brother—lauded as a war hero—might actually have been a coward. With little thought of consequence, Cotton joins the National Guard to avoid serving in Vietnam and is plunged into the midst of the civil rights movement. Sixty miles away, Martin Luther King Jr. faces off against a Memphis mayor. When Cotton’s unit is deployed to Memphis to control rioting he and his friends naively sense only excitement with no understanding for the racial tensions raging across the nation. Once in the city, Cotton encounters a black war hero and the soldier’s remarkable, book-loving father—a man who reignites Cotton’s long-buried dreams. Yet these new friends harbor secrets about Cotton’s family, including the true story of his brother’s death. Faced with personal tragedy, betrayal, and overwhelming anger in the aftermath of Dr. King’s assassination, Cotton faces a life-changing decision. Will he forgive and move on, or will he allow his family’s ghosts to haunt him forever?

238 pages, Paperback

Published March 5, 2018

Reviews

[Chris Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not excited to read this book. But 20 pages in I was hooked. The story (which are fictional) revolves around two National guardsmen in Memphis during the riots in Memphis and Martin Luther King. Each man has a different background. The incidents in the story are true. This book was well researched and delightfully written.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reading historical fiction that happened during my lifetime!?!? Cecilia Clanton wrote a story of fiction during the civil rights movement in the 60's and based in Memphis during the time of the assassination of Martin Luther King. Even knowing the facts the story was a page turner. Good Read! I picked this book for our November Book Club.. Cecilia Clanton attended our meeting. What a great discussion of the book and sharing of our personal experiences during that time in the 60's. (Just a side note: my meal was a hit!)

[Pam Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author will be speaking at my Book Club on 1/15/19, so wanted to read her book, especially since it takes place in my hometown during a part of my lifetime that I remember well.

Cotton Mathis is a young man alone in the world after the death of his mother from cancer, his brother's death in Vietnam, and his fathers's suicide. With little thought of consequence, Cotton joins the National Guard to avoid serving in Vietnam. Cotton’s unit is deployed to Memphis to control rioting before and after the death of Martin Luther but he and his friends naively sense only excitement with no understanding for the racial tensions raging across the nation. Once in Memphis, Cotton encounters a black war hero and the soldier’s remarkable, book-loving father.a rarity among black people at this time. Yet these new friends harbor secrets about Cotton’s family, including the true story of his brother’s death. Cotton must decide whether the tragedy in life will destroy him or make him a better person.