John Henry Essay

I am interested in researching the urban legend of John Henry. The legend of John Henry is about an African American male who manually works on a railroad with a hammer and was proud of his work. Others working on the railroad could not match or exceed John Henrys capabilities as it pertained to hammering railroad spikes. It usually took three workers to do the same job that he could do all by himself, just that alone caused a lot of jealousy and animosity for some people. This topic is important to me because it shows that John Henry was determined to prove that man is greater than machine. John Henry is an icon for people who believe hard work and determination are a way of life. The reason that this urban legend is relevant is because during that time an African American male was the best at doing his job with great proficiency and confidence.
Many aspects of the John Henry legend is subject today, there is a statue of John Henry outside the town of Talcott in Summers County, West Virginia. Also any locations, including Big Bend Tunnel in West Virginia, Lewis Tunnel in Virginia, and Coosa Mountain Tunnel in Alabama, have been suggested as the site of where his story takes place. Others working on the railroad could not match or exceed John Henrys capabilities as it pertained to hammering railroad spikes. It usually took three workers to do the same job that he could do all by himself, just that alone caused a lot of jealousy and animosity. I believe people will care about this legend based on the fact that an individual took pride in his work and dedicated his life to his trade and being a human being. Another reason people will care about this legend is because the tale of John Henry has been used as a symbol in many cultural movements, including labor movements and the Civil Rights