Harper Rzepczynski
Opinions Editor
Being in the state of Tennessee when beloved country singer and philanthropist Dolly Parton passed away on Aug. 25 was much like being in England when Queen Elizabeth II died. Tragedy swept campus as the tune of “My Tennessee Mountain Home” poured out of our windows. An era had ended as the adored figure, who somehow penetrated every American’s heart, was laid to rest after a brief battle with cancer.
Let me be blunt: For nearly a decade, I have found myself deeply entwined with only one side of the political spectrum. I still vehemently advocate for this side, and my alignment has yet to falter. Considering that, I was hesitant to praise Dolly Parton’s studiously seemingly agnostic approach to politics — I initially viewed her refusal to take a party stance to be cowardly. Even Parton’s own sister criticized her, saying, “She can run [her mouth] when it is about something else, but speak up about injustice, Dolly Parton. Speak up.” How could we make true progress if we pick the “safe option,” stay neutral? I assumed Parton remained in place, silent and still, in an effort to remain loved by the public.
Here’s the thing: Dolly Parton was anything but politically unexpressed. I knew that she was generally known for her good deeds, charming manner, and generous donations; however, a bit of research expanded my understanding of her far beyond the frame I had first imposed.
To start, Parton articulated through film: In 1980, she starred in Jane Fonda’s “9 to 5,” a film exposing discrimination against women in the workplace. Fonda was also notably passionate in her opposition to the Vietnam War, and, though Parton could have pleased conservative fans in distancing herself, she and Fonda remained friends. In addition, I was aware that Parton openly spoke her support for the LGBTQ+ community, but I did not realize that she went far beyond words: In 1989, Parton and Sandy Gallin’s film production company, Sandollar, released a documentary called “Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt,” which brought attention to the AIDS crisis and even called out the Reagan administration for its lack of action in relation to the epidemic.
Beyond the big screen, Parton remained loyal to where she came from and based much of her philanthropy in supporting people who shared her upbringing in rural Tennessee poverty. Famously, her Imagination Library and Buddy Program were features of the Dollywood Foundation; the former delivered 332 million books to children not just in Tennessee but all across the world, while the latter lowered the high school drop out rate in Sevier County from 35% to 6% by promoting education in impoverished communities. The Dollywood Foundation also created the My People Fund, which donated $12 million to immediately assist those who lost their homes in Sevier County’s 2016 wildfires. In 2022, Parton began providing 100% free tuition to all 11,000 employees working under Herschend Enterprises, which was a partner in operating Dollywood. Dolly did quiet philanthropy as well by providing funds for several majority Black high schools’ band and choir programs without a mention to the public. In an isolated, impoverished, and under-educated region of the United States, she was a beam of hope and action.
It is also widely known that Parton donated $1 million to Nashville’s Vanderbilt University for researching and testing what would become Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, saving lives across the nation. Parton never forgot her musical roots, either, as she was a member of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, a labor union of about 70,000 musicians. She also voiced her support for Black Lives Matter in 2020.
After seeing Parton’s confident statements, art that confronted identity’s social obstacles, and passionate humanitarianism, it suddenly began to make sense as to why she refused the Presidential Medal of Freedom from both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, why she declined to publicly support a candidate in any national election, and why, all in all, she never allied herself with either side: Dolly Parton prioritized principles and personal moves over parties. She was not neutral; rather, she rose above the systems and political gridlock which plague our nation by promoting her own values and ideas such as education, support for musicians, attention to human rights, health, and more. In a UMass-Lowell study from this year where 1,000 people were surveyed on their views of random global celebrities, Parton by far had the highest net popularity at +65% from a surveyee pool including leftists, liberals, and conservatives. I now understand that this isn’t because she dedicated her image to people-pleasing. She was so widely loved because she knew how to unify a polarized America when a good portion of us are guilty of aligning ourselves with a party, speaking favorably of and voting for such a party, spewing aggression at the other side, and calling it a day.
In my revised understanding of how to handle our political climate, simply opposing one side and supporting the other does very little; Parton taught me a lesson that I was too wrapped up to learn. When we obsess over critiquing our opponents instead of taking action and moving forward, we get nothing done.
Before researching Parton, I thought she was the one who was standing still; however, it has now occurred to me that she was moving faster than most of us. So, here is my takeaway: do something, take action. Arguing can be important, especially regarding something as important as politics and the future of our nation, but solely fighting for its own sake is not enough. Simple opposition and criticism means nothing if you do not push forward on the cause you claim to support. Of course we are not all multi-millionaires like Parton; however, we can take steps on a smaller scale. Do your research and vote. Write or speak out not for a party but for a principle and value. Go to protests calling for what you believe in. Educate those who you believe to be misinformed instead of letting anger get the best of you. I am not saying you should withdraw support from the political party of your choosing — instead, I am encouraging you to realize that allying yourself with one side and despising the other is not sufficient. Do more, and maybe we will all finally begin moving.