The Legend of John Henry is a famous American folk tale about an African American steel-driving man who worked on the railroads after the Civil War. John Henry is celebrated for his strength and determination. According to the legend, he competed against a steam-powered drill to prove human labor's superiority over machines. Despite winning by crushing more rock than the machine, John Henry died from exhaustion, symbolizing the struggle against industrialization and oppression.

The story is rooted in some historical context, particularly during the construction of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad's Big Bend Tunnel in West Virginia. However, over time, fact and fiction have blended, making it difficult to separate the two. The legend has been immortalized in numerous songs, stories, and artworks, highlighting themes of resilience and defiance against mechanization and racial oppression.

Did John Henry really have to die?