Earlier this year, a strongly worded post from Rosanne Cash caught my attention. Cash took to social media to reject the actions of the Trump Administration and asked for people that continued to support the actions of this president to no longer follow her.
In a post on Instagram, Cash wrote, “I would ask that you unfollow me and do it now. I don’t want anyone who supports this malignant, racist, corrupt man and his sycophants to lurk in my feed…”
The forceful comments from her resonate for many.
The daughter of country music legend Johnny Cash, she has experienced a successful musical career in her own right. In this specific case, the 70-year-old’s powerful comments resembled that of her father’s from decades ago.
Johnny Cash never fit comfortably into a particular political category. Cash’s political focus centered on forgotten Americans and those who were lost somewhere in the system of the country. This is best explained when looking at Cash’s performance for the imprisoned men at Folsom State Prison and San Quentin State Prison in California.
In fact, Cash would perform in at least 30 prisons across multiple countries in his storied career. The prison performances would help define Cash as somewhat of a folk hero in country music and beyond. It would also impact him greatly, as he testified before Congress in 1972 regarding improving prison conditions and reexamining harsh sentences.
Cash’s audiences were of all races and resembled the diversity found in the country. As someone who identified with the Cherokee Tribe himself, Cash continually supported the plight of Native Americans throughout the country. He recorded an entire 1964 album, “Bitter Tears,” and based it off the inferior treatment they endured by the federal government. One poignant song entitled “The Ballad of Ira Hayes” highlights the trouble that many American Indians experienced during Cash’s career.
Put simply, Cash would not fit a simple political box by today’s standards. He would often align with more liberal or reform-minded views on criminal justice and poverty. At the same time, Cash would display conservative values. He was openly Christian, as he joined Billy Graham for revivals and crusades, and had a deep respect for American traditions and the military, as he was a veteran himself.
By the later part of his life, Cash described himself in ways that suggested political independence. He criticized both political parties at different times and seemed wary of ideological rigidity. His worldview was rooted less in party politics and more in morality, faith and personal experience.
Seth James Campbell is from Columbia and is an educator. He also runs Hound Dog Holler Animal Rescue. He has degrees from Columbia State Community College, University of Tennessee and Trevecca Nazarene University. He can be reached at [email protected].
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