For today’s episode, we spoke with Michael Foley, author of Citizen Cash: The Political Life and Times of Johnny Cash, for a wide-ranging discussion about Cash’s politics. We dissect Foley’s framework of a “politics of empathy” to describe how Cash navigated a complex political environment marked primarily by the various civil rights movements and the Vietnam War. Crucially, we consider the relevance of a politics of empathy in today’s climate, as well as the important role artists play in these increasingly troubling times.
Show Notes
* Find Citizen Cash: The Political Life and Times of Johnny Cash here.
* Michael Foley’s website
* Learn more about Farm Aid here.
* Johnny Cash sings “Man in Black” at Vanderbilt University
Credits
Theme music by our youngest brother Tate.
Cover art by Arthur Santoro.
