Citizen Cash: The Political Life and Times of Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash’s music often reflected the plight of Native Americans, prisoners, and minorities, yet at times his image and actions projected contradictory messages. Foley (Confronting the War Machine) examines Cash and his music, arguing that Cash did not lean to any partisan group but instead was a champion of “a new model of public citizenship based on empathy.” Digging into untapped archives and an examination of social movements and grassroots activism, this book presents a fresh view of the influential artist. The author combines biographical detail and an analysis of Cash’s comments and actions during his live performances and on The Johnny Cash Show (which aired from 1969 to 1971) to illustrate how the musician viewed his political and social ideas. The narration by Greg Littlefield is smooth and clear and moves at a satisfying pace.