专辑简介

John Henry is an American folk hero, the steel-driving man who beat a steam powered drill in a race tunneling through a mountain.

A classic underdog story, John Henry as a character represents the most marginalized in American society as a working class black man and he has been utilized by various labor movements and the Civil Rights Movement as a source of inspiration. Even today, though, some of his relevance remains. In the 21st century, we still struggle to cope with technology creeping into the workforce just as John Henry was battling against the steam powered machines of the Industrial Revolution. Furthermore, racial turmoil has bubbled to the surface of American society yet again with the Black Lives Matter movement pointing out the institutionalized racism that still exists. Perhaps John Henry’s work is not done. Hammering to the center of the mountain; proving himself against insurmountable odds; asserting his personhood, value, and worth despite those that seek to dehumanize and devalue him. As Big Bill Broonzy sang in his version of the John Henry story; “Before I let your steel drill beat me down, I will die with a hammer in my hand."