John Henry | Steel-Drivin' Legend

A man of great strength and a powerful heart, John Henry epitomized the power of the human spirit as he challenges the then-new technology of the steam drill to a race. It's man versus machine in this timeless tale, told elegantly by guest narrator Dani Burke!
MYTHOLOGY HAS BEEN TOLD AND RETOLD IN MANY FORMS ACROSS TIME, STORIES AND ACCOUNTS MAY VARY.
REFERENCES:
www.ibiblio.or...
www.nps.gov/ne...
learningenglis...
www.britannica...
www.loc.gov/it...
GUEST NARRATOR:
Dani Burke
OPENING:
www.fiverr.com...
MUSIC:
"In the Sweet By and By" Mark Burchfield
"John Henry theme" from Tall Tale
CLIPS:
"John Henry" by Disney
ART BY:
Jerry Pinkney
Palmer C Hayden
If I used your artwork please let me know so I can give proper credit!

[@Gearz-365]

I love this story. It's a classic scenario of man vs machine. Especially since John fought off the steam drill to save him and his friends from losing their jobs. He may have died, but he died a hero, and even the drill couldn't catch up and broke down before John even finished. His story will forever live on

[@comettamer]

If you look up the song "Man against Machine" by Garth Brooks, it's a neat homage to the story.

[@comettamer]

John Henry was a mighty, mighty man and even the march of technology was no match for him.

[@anarchochristian1910]

Certainly one of the best American folk heroes.

[@codyherrera7577]

Need to do Pecos bill next in american tall tells and legends

[@benjaminfeld6388]

I heard somewhere that some legends claim that John Henry didn't actually die that day but actually fell into a deep sleep from which he hasn't yet woken up. Kind of reminiscent of the legend of King Arthur.

[@aidanhever3369]

He's the main inspiration for the character of John Henry Irons AKA Steel from the Superman mythos.

[@TheMovieUniverse]

No American will ever forget the name John Henry!

[@nikosantos1172]

It's a dumb story

[@frausmandrake9757]

@@nikosantos1172 Then why do you bother?

[@petergould9174]

Pretty much everyone has and the same was said of WW2 yet anyone 30 and younger has virtually forgotten that also.

[@alicerivierre]

No sir! John Henry's a great story of triumph, strength, and courage!

[@JaykimMoon-s7k]

Racist

[@Gunganfan]

Wonderful Marvelous A man with the strength of many (Yes, he was Brave and bold with a heart of gold John Henry was a mighty man Born with a hammer right in his hand

[@skurvay3429]

No matter how advanced Technology may get, it will never be able to compete with the Human Heart & Spirit, That is just one of the lessons that the Legend of John Henry teaches us.

[@FLAME4564]

hehe Amen to that brother :3 amen to that indeed :3

[@donguapo7862]

Great video as always

[@ayodari_style]

Thank you for doing this video! We love this tall tale!

[@cgraham8492]

Disney's Tall Tales kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYSofHl_ZZVgnZI

[@nikosantos1172]

it's capitalist propaganda.

[@nikosantos1172]

Why it's complete bullshit about how a good slave should be

[@houstonfrey4307]

Used to hear about John a lot end second third grade I love the stories about him can you did a really great job on this I love your Channel❤❤

[@alicerivierre]

John Henry rocks! 10/10!

[@FLAME4564]

From the Master of chopping trees like Paul Bunyan to master of Steel Driving that is John Henry :3 Lets hope history never forgets the names Paun Bunyan and John Henry.

[@Hallel2006]

Nothing like a good tall tale

[@markgreiser464]

One of my favorite Stories, ever. Heroes mean an lot to me. Real Heroes, not the kind that are Men playing Child's games, for a living. I think John Henry was a real Man. God rest his Soul.

[@nicholasjones7881]

John Henry is the inspiration for Steel.

[@Wyrmshield]

I was not expecting this story to be so epic, wow

[@al145]

John Henry is probably what should be "an American Tall Tale" in that, it's definitively "American" in the sense of everything about it

[@cgraham8492]

Yes he is, as well as few others kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYSofHl_ZZVgnZI

[@nikosantos1172]

As in capitalist propaganda

[@JaykimMoon-s7k]

Your a racist

[@pizzaman9859]

Epic story

[@thorgal2516]

RIP JOHN

[@jackbelinski2661]

If the company was going to get the drilling machine regardless, then that means the contest wasn’t about proving machines are totally useless compared to man, it was about proving man’s value in relation to machines. By winning the contest, John Henry proved that machines can’t replace man’s value.

[@geardantonio7826]

Good story

[@thomasromero1339]

Need him in FGO

[@genericwhitekidthesecond4330]

We need John to come back and save us from being replaced by AI and robots

[@David-S.130]

i didnt know that their were "myths" from the civil war timeframe

[@sinnops]

And here we are all these years later still fearing lost jobs to machines, this time its AI.

[@krissaberhagen]

i learned about this american legend in elementary school. good to know he is not forgotten.

[@lifewithlee6298]

I always felt so bad for his mom, imagine giving birth to a boy and a hammer 🔨? That would hurt

[@Chris_M_Romero]

What is black history month?

[@MythologyUnleashed]

Black History Month is an annual observance and celebration of the history, culture, and arts of the African diaspora during the month of February!

[@JaykimMoon-s7k]

Where you been.

[@sharkchaos5160]

Great video.

[@mikearts3671]

1:16 Yo the sun is doing the pogchamp! lmao 😲😂

[@angrychimpanzee8621]

Lol 😆

[@pizzaman9859]

PogU

[@Knight_the_soldier]

​@@angrychimpanzee8621 give up loser

[@Knight_the_soldier]

​@@angrychimpanzee8621 loser 🤣🤣🤣

[@Knight_the_soldier]

​@@pizzaman9859 loser 🤣🤣🤣

[@petergould9174]

What a depressing version of the Tales of John Henry.

[@harryking96]

And inaccurate to, the man was Irish I know his descendents.

[@nikosantos1172]

American capitalist propaganda story.

[@chidoman1595]

In what way?

[@nikosantos1172]

@@chidoman1595 r u serious my brother? The story is about how one guy, a black guy, in the south, is blessed with above average strength who is against protesters, against automation, no mention of unions, loves * hard work*,

[@calebpepper3834]

@@nikosantos1172 Here is how little you know of US history and or the story of John Henry. The machines weren’t meant to make life easier for those here they were used to keep people enslaved longer or out of work and impoverished. Look up the Cotton Gin and how it was used if you don’t believe me.

[@HeartlessRandomguy]

If you don't like my country, go home, commie

[@Nikotheleepic]

​@@nikosantos1172"protestors" what the fuck is wrong with you, seriously you are insane, if anything his story is pro union. Vs people being replaced by machines yet still living in poverty because the rich give them nothing, he fought to save his friends and family to give them plots of land and to create something meaningful