Project: Illustration
Description: John Henry the Steel Drivin’ Man
Role: Graphic Design and Illustration

When I was a child my folks bought me an album with African American stories and fables recorded on it. I’ll never forget the song of John Henry:

Well John Henry said to his captain,
He said “a man ain’t nothin’ but a man”,
And before I let that steam drill beat me down,
I’ll die with this hammer in my hand, lawd, lawd,
I’ll die with this hammer in my hand

A true legend, and a role model for the working men and women who fight for the dignity of their labor. John Henry fought against irrelevance brought on by 19th century industrialization and we fight a similar struggle against digitization today.