Statue of John Henry outside the town of Talcott in Summers County, WV

John Henry is an American folk hero, who has been the subject of numerous songs, stories, plays, and novels. Summers County is a County located in the US state of West Virginia. A folk hero is type of Hero, real or mythological. The single salient characteristic which makes a character a folk hero is the imprinting of the name personality

Like other "Big Men" such as Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, and Iron John, John Henry also served as a mythical representation of a group within the melting pot of the 19th-century working class. Paul Bunyan is a Mythological Lumberjack who appears in Tall tales of American folklore. Pecos Bill is a legendary American Cowboy, apocryphally immortalized in numerous Tall tales of the Old West during American "Iron John" (aka Iron Hans or Der Eisnehaus) is a German Fairy tale found in the collections of the Brothers In the most popular story of his life, Henry is not born into the world big and strong. He grows to be the greatest "steel-driver" in the mid-century push to erect/extend the railroads across the mountains to the West. The complication of the story is that, as machine power continued to supplant brute muscle power (both animal and human), the owner of the railroad buys a steam-powered hammer to do the work of his mostly black driving crew. In a bid to save his job and the jobs of his men, John Henry challenges the inventor to a contest: John Henry versus the steam hammer. John Henry wins, but in the process, he collapses and dies. While many don't attempt to explain his cause of death, the cause varies among those who do. Some cite it as a heart attack; in other versions of the story, John Henry suffers from a stroke. Myocardial infarction ( MI or AMI for acute myocardial infarction) also known as a heart attack, occurs when the blood supply A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain Other versions say he dies from exhaustion. Finally, in one version, he survives.

In modern depictions John Henry is often portrayed as hammering down rail spikes, but older versions depict him driving blasting holes into rock, part of the process of excavating railroad tunnels and cuttings. In almost all versions of the story, John Henry is a black man and serves as a folk hero for all American working-class people, representing their marginalization during changes entering the modern age in America. While the character may or may not have been based on a real person, Henry became an important symbol of the working class. His story is usually seen as an archetypal illustration of the futility of fighting the technological progress that was evident in the 19th century upset of traditional physical labor roles. Some labor advocates interpret the legend as illustrating that even the most skilled workers of time-honored practices are marginalized when companies are more interested in efficiency and production than in their employee's health and well-being. The labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better Although John Henry proved himself more efficient than the steam-drill, he worked himself to death and was replaced by the machine anyway. Thus the legend of John Henry has been a staple of American labor and mythology for well over one hundred years.

History

The truth about John Henry as the strongest man alive is obscured by time and myth, but one legend has it that he was a slave born in Missouri in the 1840s and fought his famous battle with the steam hammer along the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway in Talcott, West Virginia. Missouri ( or) is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O was a Class I railroad formed in 1869 in Virginia from many smaller railroads begun in the 19th century Talcott (also Rolinsburgh or Rollinsburg) is an unincorporated community in Summers County, West Virginia, United States A statue and memorial plaque have been placed along a highway south of Talcott as it crosses over the tunnel in which the competition may have taken place.

The railroad historian Roy C. Long found that there were multiple Big Bend Tunnels along the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railway. Also, the C&O employed multiple black men who went by the name "John Henry" at the time that those tunnels were being built. Though he could not find any documentary evidence, he believes on the basis of anecdotal evidence that the contest between man and machine did indeed happen at the Talcott, West Virginia, site because of the presence of all three (a man named John Henry, a tunnel named Big Bend, and a steam-powered drill) at the same time at that place. ^[1]

The book Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry, the Untold Story of an American Legend by Scott Reynolds Nelson, an associate professor of history at the College of William and Mary, argues that John William Henry, a prisoner in Virginia leased by the warden to work on the C&O Railway in the 1870s, is the basis for the legendary John Henry. The College of William and Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, also known as William & Mary or W&M) is a Public university ^[2]

Retired chemistry professor and folklorist John Garst has argued that the contest instead happened at the Coosa Mountain Tunnel or the Oak Mountain Tunnel of the Columbus and Western Railway (now part of Norfolk Southern) near Leeds, Alabama on September 20, 1887. The Columbus and Western Railway (C&W is a historic railroad that operated in Georgia, United States. This article is about the present railroad formed in 1990 For the former regional railroad in Virginia and North Carolina a small part of the new one see Norfolk Southern Leeds is a city located in Jefferson, St Clair, and Shelby Counties in the U Events 451 - The Battle of Chalons takes place in North Eastern France. Year 1887 ( MDCCCLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Based on documentation that corresponds with the account of C. C. Spencer, who claimed in the 1920s to have witnessed the contest, Garst speculates that John Henry may have been a man named Henry who was born a slave to P. Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar A. L. Dabney, the father of the chief engineer of that railroad, in 1850. For the game see 1850 (board game. 1850 ( MDCCCL) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link ^[3] The city of Leeds is making plans to honor John Henry's legend with an exhibit in its Bass House historical museum and with a planned annual festival culminating on the third Saturday of September. ^[4][5]

Though no documentary proof has emerged to rule out either theory, both Talcott and Leeds use their supposed connections with the legend in promotional and educational literature and events. Every year, on the weekend after the fourth of July, the town of Talcott hosts a celebration known as "John Henry Days. " The weekend includes many yard sales, a parade, fireworks, and a rubber ducky race.

References in popular culture

Songs

Songs featuring the story of John Henry have been sung by many blues, folk, and rock musicians, Leadbelly (singing both "John Henry" and a variant entitled "Take This Hammer"), Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, Paul Robeson, Mississippi John Hurt (in his "Spike Driver Blues" variant of the song), Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Wookiefoot, Big Bill Broonzy, Josh White, Odetta, Johnny Cash (singing "The Legend of John Henry's Hammer") a nine minute version, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Fred McDowell, John Renbourn, John Fahey (who plays both an instrumental of the original song, and an instrumental of his own, "John Henry Variation"), Harry Belafonte, Roberta Flack, Dave Van Ronk, The Gun Club, Little Jimmy Dickens, John Jacob Niles and the Drive-By Truckers (singing "The Day John Henry Died"). Huddie William Ledbetter, (January 1888 – December 6 1949 was an American folk and Blues Musician, notable for his clear and forceful singing Take This Hammer ( Roud 4299) is a prison work song It was collected by John and Alan Lomax. Saunders Terrell, better known as Sonny Terry ( 24 October 1911, Greensboro, North Carolina - 11 March 1986, Walter Brown ("Brownie" McGhee ( November 30 1915 - February 16 1996) was a folk - Blues Singer Paul LeRoy Bustill Robeson ( April 9, 1898 &ndash January 23, 1976) was a multi-lingual American Actor, athlete "Mississippi" John Smith Hurt ( July 3 1893 or March 8, 1892, Teoc, Carroll County, Mississippi - November Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie (July 14 1912–October 3 1967 was an American Singer-songwriter and Folk musician Guthrie's musical legacy Peter "Pete" Seeger (born May 3 1919 is an American folk singer political Activist, and a key figure in the mid-20th century American Big Bill Broonzy ( 26 June 1898 &ndash 14 August 1958) was a prolific American Blues Singer, songwriter Joshua Daniel White ( February 11, 1914 –- September 5, 1969) best known as Josh White, was a legendary American Odetta (born December 31, 1930) is an African-American singer actress guitarist songwriter and a human rights activist often referred to as "The Johnny Cash (born J R Cash; February 26 1932 - September 12 2003 was a Grammy Award -winning American country Singer-songwriter. Ramblin' Jack Elliott (born Elliott Charles Adnopoz, August 1, 1931) is an American folk performer Fred McDowell ( January 12 1904 - July 3 1972) often known as Mississippi Fred McDowell, was a blues Singer and Guitar John Renbourn (born 8 August 1944, Marylebone, London, England) is an English Guitarist and Songwriter John Fahey (February 28 1939 – February 22 2001 was an American Fingerstyle guitarist and composer who pioneered the steel-string guitar as a solo Harold George Belafonte Jr (born March 1 1927 is an American musician actor and Social activist. Roberta Flack (born February 10, 1937) is an American Singer-songwriter and Musician who is notable in the areas of Jazz Dave Van Ronk ( June 30 1936 – February 10 2002) was a Folk singer born in For information on "gun clubs" see Shooting ranges ' The Gun Club was an American Punk blues band from Los Angeles James Cecil Dickens (born December 19, 1920) is an American Country music singer from Bolt West Virginia. John Jacob Niles (b Louisville, Kentucky, April 28, 1892; d Lexington Kentucky, March 1, 1980) was an Drive-By Truckers are a Rock band based in Athens Georgia, though three out of five members (Mike Cooley Patterson Hood and Shonna Tucker originally hail Several versions have become standards among bluegrass musicians. This article refers to a music term For other uses see Standard (disambiguation. Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and is a sub-genre of Country music. Specifically, John Henry Brown is the main character in the song "Quack on duck" recorded by both Doc Watson and the Rice Brothers. Dave Dudley wrote his own variation called "John Henry". Dave Dudley ( May 3 1926 – December 22 2003) was a Country music singer Northern Ireland band 'The Helfire Club' reference the plight of John Henry in their song 'Dead Man's Funk'. The Shane Daniel album Yours Truly contains a song called "The Spirit Of John Henry". Daniel says this song has to do with the name John Henry not being used in modern songs. The Supremes recorded a song in 1967 entitled "Treat Me Nice John Henry" which explains about a girl's love for John Henry growing and growing and begging for him to be nice to her. The Supremes were an American female singing group that first formed as a quartet called The Primettes Tom T. Hall performed a song called "More About John Henry", which explored John Henry's personal life. Tom T Hall (born May 25, 1936 in Olive Hill, Kentucky) is an American country balladeer, Songwriter, and During the 1990's, Atlanta based band Burnin' Pork Truck included "John Henry" in every performance. Most recently, Bruce Springsteen performs "John Henry" with a folk band on his 2006 album We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. We Shall Overcome The Seeger Sessions, released in 2006, is the fourteenth studio album by Bruce Springsteen. It was translated into Norwegian as "Jon Henry" in 1973 by Odd Børretzen. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Odd Lunde Børretzen (born November 21, 1926) is a Norwegian author illustrator translator and vocalist ^[6] Van Morrison recorded a rock version of the folk song on his 1998 album The Philosopher's Stone. George Ivan Morrison OBE (generally known as Van Morrison) (born 31 August 1945 is a Grammy Award -winning Northern Irish Singer, Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. For the Harry Potter book see Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone The Philosopher's Stone is a compilation Album by Henry Thomas also recorded a version of the song. Henry Thomas (1874-1950s? was an American pre- World War II, country Blues Singer, Songster and Musician. Indie rock/Alt-country group Songs: Ohia released the song "John Henry Split My Heart" on their 2003 album Magnolia Electric Co., and fellow alt-country group Drive-By Truckers released the song "The Day John Henry Died" on their 2004 album The Dirty South. Indie rock is genre of Alternative rock that primarily exists in the independent Underground music scene Alternative country is a term used to describe a number of Country music subgenres that tend to differ from mainstream or pop country music Jason Molina is an American singer-songwriter originally from Lorain Ohio. Magnolia Electric Co is the seventh regular and final album by Songs Ohia. Alternative country is a term used to describe a number of Country music subgenres that tend to differ from mainstream or pop country music Drive-By Truckers are a Rock band based in Athens Georgia, though three out of five members (Mike Cooley Patterson Hood and Shonna Tucker originally hail The Dirty South is the sixth Album by Alabamian Country rock group Drive-By Truckers, released in 2004 The Smothers Brothers have also used the "John Henry" song as part of their folk satire routine. The Smothers Brothers are an American music-and- Comedy team consisting of the brothers Tom ("Tommy" and Dick Smothers. John Henry reappears as an avenging bogeyman figure in "John Henry Gonna" on Those Poor Bastards' 2007 album Hellfire Hymns. Also, Canadian group "Cuff The Duke" have a hit song titled "The Ballad of Poor John Henry", while New York art-metal collective The Book Of Knots just released a song titled just "The Ballad of John Henry" on their new album, Traineater. American composer Aaron Copland arranged the traditional "John Henry" for orchestra or chamber orchestra in 1940, a composition that appears on the soundtrack for the Spike Lee film He Got Game (1998), among other recordings. Aaron Copland (November 14 1900 &ndash December 2 1990 was an American Composer of concert and film music as well as an accomplished Pianist. Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee (born March 20 1957 is an Emmy Award -winning and Academy Award -nominated American Film director, He Got Game is a 1998 sports - drama Film written and directed by Spike Lee, and starring Denzel Washington and Jerry Lee Lewis recorded the song as well in 1960. Jerry Lee Lewis (born September 29, 1935) is an American Rock and roll and Country music Singer, Songwriter Smokey And The Bandit Opening theme says, "You've heard about the legend of Jesse James, and John Henry just to mention some names. " With lyrics ". . . Thinking how happy John Henry was that he fell down and died," Gillian Welch, makes reference in album "Time (The Revelator)" song Elvis Presly Blues. A British folk-punk band, The Cropdusters, from Hampshire, also recorded a song called "John Henry" in the 1980s. Buck 65 also makes reference to "the hammer that killed John Henry" in a rap song circa 2006. There is also a southern metal band located in Wichita Falls, Texas called "John Henry vs. The Machine".

Disney film

In 2000, Walt Disney Feature Animation completed a short subject film based on John Henry, produced at the satellite studio in Orlando, Florida, directed by 1Mark Henn, written by Shirley Pierce and produced by Steven Keller. 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Walt Disney Animation Studios (as Walt Disney Feature Animation is a key element of The Walt Disney Company, and the oldest existing Animation studio in the world Short subject is a format description originally coined in the North American Film industry in the early period of cinema. Orlando is a major City in central Florida, USA and is the County seat of Orange County Florida. Keller, Henn and Pierce worked collaboratively with the Grammy Award winning group "Sounds of Blackness" to create all new songs for the film. Sounds of Blackness is a Grammy Award -winning Vocal and Instrumental ensemble from Minneapolis/St The film also featured the voice talent of actress Alfre Woodard. Alfre Ette Woodard (born November 8, 1952) is an American actress. "John Henry" created a strong positive response around the animation community, won several film festivals both domestically and abroad, and was one of seven finalists for the 2001 academy awards in its category. A festival is an event usually and ordinarily staged by a local community which centers on some unique aspect of that community In mathematics Seven is the fourth Prime number. It is not only a Mersenne prime (since 23 &minus 1 = 7 but also a Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. An academy ( Greek Ἀκαδημία is an institution of higher learning research or honorary membership An award is something given to a person or a group of people to recognize Excellence in a certain field a certificate of excellence

However, Disney was uneasy about releasing a short about a black folk hero created by an almost completely white production team, and aside from film festivals, industry screenings and limited theater screenings required for academy award consideration, a slightly cut down version of John Henry was released only as part of a video compilation entitled Disney American Legends in 2001. Black is the Color of objects that do not emit or Reflect Light in any part of the Visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of A folk hero is type of Hero, real or mythological. The single salient characteristic which makes a character a folk hero is the imprinting of the name personality White is a Color, the perception which is evoked by Light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive Cone cells in the Human eye A festival is an event usually and ordinarily staged by a local community which centers on some unique aspect of that community For other uses of this term see Industry (disambiguation An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent industrious" Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. This became the nation's top-selling children's video for several weeks upon its release. Disney Educational Productions has also made the film available as a stand-alone product for video use in schools. The film is often shown on The Disney Channel, particularly during Black History Month. For the Disney Channel in other countries see Disney Channel around the world. Black History Month is a remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora.

Other

• Henry is the subject of the 1931 Roark Bradford novel John Henry, illustrated by noted woodcut artist J. J. Lankes. The year 1931 in literature involved some significant events and new books John Henry is a 1931 Novel by Roark Bradford and illustrated by Woodcut artist J Julius John Lankes (1884-1960 was an Illustrator, a Woodcut print Artist, Author, and college Professor. It was adopted into a stage musical in 1940, starring Paul Robeson in the title role. Musical theatre is a form of Theatre combining Music, Songs spoken Dialogue and Dance. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Paul LeRoy Bustill Robeson ( April 9, 1898 &ndash January 23, 1976) was a multi-lingual American Actor, athlete
• John Henry is the name of a mule, the only "friend" of the tall convict, in William Faulkner's If I Forget Thee, Jerusalem(1934). William Faulkner (born William Cuthbert Falkner) ( September 25, 1897 – July 6, 1962) was an American Author
• In 1994, They Might Be Giants released an album titled John Henry. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) They Might Be Giants (commonly abbreviated to TMBG) is an American Alternative rock band which began as a duo of John Flansburgh and John John Henry is the name of They Might Be Giants ' fifth original album although it is the sixth disc in their Discography.
• John Henry was a character in the 1995 Disney movie Tall Tale, appearing alongside Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyan. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Tall Tale, also known as Tall Tale The Unbelievable Adventures of Pecos Bill is a 1995 family Western movie starring Patrick Pecos Bill is a legendary American Cowboy, apocryphally immortalized in numerous Tall tales of the Old West during American Paul Bunyan is a Mythological Lumberjack who appears in Tall tales of American folklore.
• In 1996, the U.S. Post Office issued a John Henry 32 cent postage stamp. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of the United States of America (USA.
• Colson Whitehead's 2001 novel John Henry Days uses the John Henry myth as story background. Colson Whitehead is a New York -based Novelist. In 2002 he received a MacArthur Fellowship, often referred to as the MacArthur "Genius" grant Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. John Henry Days is a 2001 Pulitzer Prize shortlisted novel by African American author Colson Whitehead.
• The story of John Henry was re-worked in a comic song by the songwriting duo The Smothers Brothers. The Smothers Brothers are an American music-and- Comedy team consisting of the brothers Tom ("Tommy" and Dick Smothers. In their version, John Henry takes on the steam hammer and is narrowly defeated, but ends saying 'I'm gonna get me a steam drill too!'
• Gillian Welch's song "Elvis Presley Blues", from the album Time (The Revelator) (2001), compares Elvis Presley's death to John Henry's. Gillian Welch (born October 2, 1967 in New York City) is a Singer-songwriter whose musical style combines elements of bluegrass, Time (The Revelator is the third full length album by Gillian Welch. Her guitar lick echoes that of Mississippi John Hurt's take on John Henry, "Spike Driver Blues. "
• A racehorse was named for him in the 1970s. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. John Henry the racehorse would live up to his namesake's image as an Iron Man, and at one time was the biggest money-earner in the history of thoroughbred racing, earning a total of over $6. John Henry ( March 9 1975 &ndash October 8 2007) was an American Thoroughbred Race horse named after the 5 million in a career that spanned from 1977 to 1984. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Born in 1975, John Henry lived in retirement at the Kentucky Horse Park, in Lexington, Kentucky, until his death in 2007. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
• The legend inspired Noel Ignatiev, author of "How the Irish Became White," to name his own son John Henry.
• Mark Knopfler's song "Song for Sonny Liston", from the album Shangri-La (2004), compares Sonny Liston's left jab to that of Henry's hammer. Mark Knopfler OBE (born August 12 1949 Glasgow, Scotland) is a British Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, Shangri-La is the fourth solo album by Mark Knopfler, released in 2004 Charles L "Sonny" Liston (May 8 1932?–January 5 1971 was a professional boxer who became world heavyweight champion in 1962 by knocking out Floyd
• The legend of John Henry was the inspiration for the third version of the DC Comics superhero Steel -- also known as John Henry Irons. Dr John Henry Irons is the third hero known as Steel, a fictional Superhero in the DC Universe.
• In the DC Comics mini-series DC: The New Frontier, a black man takes on the name John Henry while donning a black hood secured by a hangman's noose and produces a sledge hammer in an attempt to avenge his murdered family by the KKK. DC The New Frontier is an Eisner, Harvey, and Shuster Award-winning six-issue Comic book Limited series written and drawn Ku Klux Klan ( KKK) is the name of several past and present secret domestic terrorist organizations in the United States, generally in the southern states that are He kills quite a few Klansmen before being injured, while hiding in a barn he is discovered by a young white girl. Ku Klux Klan ( KKK) is the name of several past and present secret domestic terrorist organizations in the United States, generally in the southern states that are He is then killed by the Klansmen. John Henry Irons is seen in the epilogue reading near John Henry's gravestone. Dr John Henry Irons is the third hero known as Steel, a fictional Superhero in the DC Universe. This serves to further emotionally connect the hero Steel and his namesake to the Silver Age folk hero. Dr John Henry Irons is the third hero known as Steel, a fictional Superhero in the DC Universe. A silver age is a name often given to a particular period within a history typically as a lesser and later successor to a golden age, the metal Silver generally being
• John Henry's visage was used in the 2006 The Transformers: Evolutions comic-book series Hearts of Steel. The Transformers Evolutions is the title of what is intended to be several Comic book miniseries published by IDW Publishing, following the same idea of Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Transformers Evolutions is the title of what is intended to be several Comic book miniseries published by IDW Publishing, following the same idea of
• Bart Simpson is forced to sing "John Henry Was a Steel Driving Man" in the "Homer's Odyssey" episode of The Simpsons. Bartholomew J "Bart" Simpson is a character in the animated television series The Simpsons " Homer's Odyssey " is the third full length episode of The Simpsons, that originally aired January 21 1990
• In the 1990s movie Gettysburg a run-away slave from the south is referred to as "a John Henry. Gettysburg is a 1993 Film that dramatizes the decisive Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War. "
• In the "Surf's Up" episode of The Cosby Show, after Theo Huxtable damages an apartment, Theo's father, Cliff, finds himself blamed because Theo's actions were a recreation of events from a story which Cliff had told to Theo. The Cosby Show is an American television Situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, first airing on September 20, 1984 Cliff defends himself by noting that he also once told Theo "the story of John Henry, who was a steel-drivin' man . . . [Theo] didn't go out and drive any steel!"
• The Onion, a satirical newspaper, ran a fictional story in its February 27, 2006 issue about a modern-day John Henry. For the vegetable see Onion. The Onion is an American " fake news " organization Events 1560 - The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. That article [1], titled "Modern-Day John Henry Dies Trying to Out-Spreadsheet Excel 11. In Computing, Microsoft Excel (full name Microsoft Office Excel) consists of a proprietary Spreadsheet -application written and distributed 0", describes an accountant who tried to prepare a spreadsheet faster than the Microsoft program Excel. Much like the traditional John Henry, this protagonist won the contest but died afterward.
• In Julian Schnabel's 1996 film Basquiat, Benny (played by Benicio del Toro) tells the story of John Henry to Jean-Michel Basquiat (Jeffrey Wright). Julian Schnabel (born 26 October 1951) is a American Artist and Filmmaker. Basquiat is a 1996 film directed by Julian Schnabel which is based on the life of American postmodernist / neo expressionist artist Benicio Monserrate Rafael del Toro Sánchez (born February 19 1967 is a Puerto Rican Actor and Film producer. Jean-Michel Basquiat ( December 22 1960 - August 12, 1988) was an American Artist. For the Austalian film director see Geoffrey Wright. Jeffrey Wright (born December 7, 1965) is an American multiple award-winning Film At the end of the tale Basquiat replies, "But he beat it".
• The song is referenced in the 1991 film The Indian Runner. The Indian Runner is a 1991 drama film written and directed by Sean Penn.
• The Arrogant Worms' song "Steel Drivin' Man" begins with the heroic introduction of John Henry, then immediately veers off to sing about "a man lazy as a thousand men. The Arrogant Worms are a Canadian musical comedy trio that parodies many Musical genres They are well known for their humorous on-stage banter in addition to their "
• On February 24, 2007, in "Mr. Monk and the Really, Really Dead Guy", an episode of Monk, Adrian Monk's psychiatrist Dr. Charles Kroger uses the story of John Henry versus the steam hammer while comparing Monk to technology, trying to cheer him up by saying that John Henry won, but then made it worse after saying that he died. Events 303 - Galerius, Roman Emperor, publishes his edict that begins the persecution of Christians in his portion of the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The following is an episode list for the dramedy television series Monk. Monk is an American Dramedy series created by Andy Breckman and starring Tony Shalhoub as the title character Adrian Monk is a Fictional character, and the protagonist of television series Monk, portrayed by Tony Shalhoub.
• Stop-motion animator George Pal made the 7-minute short "John Henry and the Inky-Poo" in 1946.
• John Henry appeared in an episode of Saul of the Mole Men, where he was depicted as a steampunk cyborg portrayed by Tom Lister, Jr.
• Toothpaste for Dinner featured John Henry in a comic on May 11, 2005. Saul of the Mole Men is a live action show created by Craig Lewis, writer on The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy and Foster's Home Steampunk is a subgenre of fantasy and Speculative fiction that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s A cyborg is a Cybernetic Organism ( ie, an organism that has both artificial and natural systems Tommy "Tiny" Lister (born Thomas Lister Jr June 24 1958) is an American Actor and former professional wrestler, best Toothpaste for Dinner is a Webcomic created by Drew. The comic was launched on January 1 2002. Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
• One episode of the Nickelodeon series Legends of the Hidden Temple features John Henry's Lost Hammer as the episode's artifact. Nickelodeon (commonly referred to as Nick) is an American Cable television network owned by Viacom International, founded in 1977 as Pinwheel Legends of the Hidden Temple is a physical challenge Game show for Children Hosted by Kirk Fogg, the show was produced by Nickelodeon
• Lupe Fiasco's "Much More" off his underground mixtape album Fahrenheit 1&15 Volume 2, he raps the following line. . . "Little Engine from the Hood, The Hustler in Me, Known to hit the track like John Henry".
• In an episode of The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, Grim tells Billy and Irwin the story of John Henry, with John Henry as Irwin, and Sperg driving the steam hammer. The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy is an award-winning American Animated television series that originally aired on Cartoon Network. Grim apparently was betting on the steam engine to win, so he used his scythe to make the machine more powerful. John Henry was said to have tunneled so fast that he broke the laws of physics and was sucked into the 8th dimension.
• A serial bomber in the Cold Case episode "Sabotage" compares the John Henry story to the modern-day practice of Offshoring and Outsourcing. Cold Case is an American Police procedural Television series revolving around a fictionalized Philadelphia Police Department division Offshore may refer to oil and Natural gas production at sea see Oil platform. Outsourcing is Subcontracting a process such as product design or Manufacturing, to a Third-party company The bomber's job was replaced with less expensive foreign labor.

See also

• John Henryism
• John Henry Irons

Other Big Men

• Big Joe Mufferaw a. John Henryism, based on the African American Folk hero John Henry, is recognized as "a style of strong coping behaviors used. Dr John Henry Irons is the third hero known as Steel, a fictional Superhero in the DC Universe. Big Joe Mufferaw was a French Canadian folk hero from the Ottawa Valley, perhaps best known today as the hero of a song by Stompin' k. a. Joseph Montferrand of the Ottawa Valley
• Gargantua
• Paul Bunyan
• Pecos Bill
• Pier Gerlofs Donia
• Iron John of Michigan
• Johnny Kaw
• Mike Fink
• Hiawatha
• Jack Magyar
• Fionn mac Cumhaill
• Venture Smith, the black Paul Bunyan
• Tom Hickathrift, an English folk hero and giant slayer
• Big Bad John
• Casey Jones
• Davy Crockett
• Jim Bowie

References

Further reading

• Johnson, Guy B. (1929) John Henry: Tracking Down a Negro Legend. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press
• Chappell, Louis W. (1933) John Henry; A Folk-Lore Study. Reprinted 1968. Port Washington, N. Y. : Kennikat Press
• Keats, Ezra Jack (1965) John Henry, An American Legend. Ezra Jack Keats ( March 11 1916 – May 6 1983) author of The Snowy Day, was an easel artist and one of the most important New York: Pantheon Books.
• Williams, Brett (1983) John Henry: A Bio-Bibliography by Brett Williams. Westport, CT. : Greenwood Press
• Nelson, Scott. (Summer 2005) "Who Was John Henry? Railroad Construction, Southern Folklore, and the Birth of Rock and Roll. " Labor: Studies in Working-Class History of the Americas Vol. 2. No. 2, pp. 53-79.
• Nelson, Scott (2006) Steel Drivin' Man. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195300109
• Garst, John (November 27, 2006) "On the Trail of the Real John Henry". Events 1095 - Pope Urban II declares the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. History News Network. (includes rebuttal by Scott Nelson)

External links

• John Henry - The Steel Driving Man Includes a page with the updated abstract of Garst (2002) above.
• John Henry, Present at the Creation
• John Henry Statue at Heritagepreservation.org
• Folklore Researcher Places Legendary John Henry in Alabama
• Onion parody
• Three Rivers Travel Council - John Henry InformationThe Legend of John Henry Information