The Non-Musical Award Johnny Cash Won for His Contributions to Prison Reform

Johnny Cash was not merely a musician. At first, sure, but with talent comes notoriety, and with notoriety comes resources, both tangible and intangible. To some, a duty is embedded in being a celebrity, or as Uncle Ben said to Peter Parker, “With great power comes great responsibility.” One person who viewed celebrity status in this way was the Man in Black, Johnny Cash, as he consistently used his celebrity status and the perks of it to give back to communities and shine a light on underrepresented topics and groups. In a sense, the man was a true civil servant.

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Through both wise words and admirable actions, Johnny Cash supported marginalized groups such as Native Americans, the black community, the middle-class workers of America, troubled children in need, and most notably, prisoners. While Johnny Cash supported a lot of different causes, the one that is often remembered is his extensive work in the prison reform space. Due to his efforts in the field and others, Johnny Cash won the United Nations Humanitarian Award in 1979.

Behind Johnny Cash’s Influential Work in Prison Reform

Johnny Cash’s advocacy with inmates goes far beyond his infamous and staple prison shows. During his career, Johnny Cash fought for prisoner rights in a multitude of different ways. Not only did he perform his shows and donate money, but he also testified to the United States Senate subcommittee on prison reform. Specifically, Cash advocated for keeping minors out of prison and focusing more on rehabilitation than punishment.

In addition to those actions, Johnny Cash also spoke with three different U.S. presidents on the matter. Those three U.S. Presidents include Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan. Cash’s perspective and proposed plans did not completely come to fruition during his lifetime. As a matter of fact, they haven’t fully come to fruition in the current day in age. Nonetheless, his celebrity brought attention to the matter and made it a major political topic in the 20th century, and consequently, the 21st century.

Again, the United States Federal Government did not execute Cash’s ideas with a sweeping federal action. However, he got the ball rolling, the minds thinking, and the conversation about prison reform flowing. And that is one of the many reasons Johnny Cash received the United Nations Humanitarian Award in 1979. The award isn’t just a testament to Cash’s character, but it also serves as a lesson for other celebrities. That lesson: No celebrity should ever take their influence and resources for granted; instead, they should use them for the greater good.

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