Beyond The Hammer

“The Ballad of John Henry” is the most reproduced folk song of all time, and like the ballad the character John Henry looms large in our culture, coming up in various forms of entertainment, literature and art time and time again. Filmmakers of the 2020 film “John Henry” Will Forbes and Douglas Skinner join Panama Jackson,narrator of the "Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry, The Untold Story of an American Legend" audiobook, cultural commentator, and columnist at the Grio, and author Scott Reynolds Nelson to discuss the enduring fasincationation and presence of the John Henry archetype in pop culture. Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry, The Untold Story of an American Legend is available wherever books are sold. The audiobook is available on Spotify, Apple, Audible and anywhere else you listen to audiobooks.

Panama Jackson, narrator of the "Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry, The Untold Story of an American Legend" audiobook, cultural commentator, and columnist at the Grio, engages in a thought-provoking dialogue with esteemed experts Dr. Millicent Robinson, Dr. Ben Torsney, and Dr. Jas Sullivan. Together, they delve into the profound cultural significance of John Henryism within Black communities, particularly as individuals navigate the challenges of systemic oppression and racism. The conversation explores the intricacies of this high-effort coping style, shedding light on its impact on both the mental and physical health outcomes across diverse Black populations. Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry, The Untold Story of an American Legend is available wherever books are sold. The audiobook is available on Spotify, Apple, Audible and anywhere else you listen to audiobooks.