Why Dolly Parton could bring together Americans who agree on almost nothing
Dolly Parton embodied the African concept of Ubuntu — "I am because we are" — enlarging humanity through her Imagination Library and delight in others.
TL;DR
- Dolly Parton's life exemplified Ubuntu, a philosophy of "I am because we are," which suggests our humanity is enlarged by our connections to others.
- Parton united people from diverse backgrounds, who admired her regardless of their own beliefs or affiliations.
- Her Imagination Library, which distributed millions of books, reflects her belief in the potential of unknown children.
- Ubuntu is presented as a way of being that does not require qualifications, only a willingness to engage with one's own and others' humanity.
- The article posits that humanity grows when shared, and strengthening another's humanity strengthens our own, leading to collective flourishing.