HENRY RAILROAD STORY FULL

Photo by Mary Huffordĭaniels is in her 40s and lives outside of Beckley, West Virginia in what used to be a Black coal camp. For her, the song tells a tragic story about the exploitation of Black workers. Ruby Daniels of Beckley, West Virginia learned “John Henry” in her middle school choir class. Maybe he sacrificed himself so his family could eat,” Daniels said. That this Black man would sacrifice himself for industry. And everything is positive to me.”īut not everybody has positive associations with the ballad of “John Henry.” Some people, like Ruby Daniels, see the song differently.

Just Daddy's sound, I can just hear his voice. “It's like, all of a sudden his presence just comes up in the room. “To sing the song to this day, I enjoy it as if he was singing through me,” Gloster said. Singing the song helps Gloster feel connected to her grandfather. “When we get together-even to this day-if there's a baby around, somebody is going to start singing ‘John Henry,’” Gloster said. The ballad of “John Henry” remains important to Gloster today. You get up and you just keep going, you just keep going.” “Regardless of how hard it is, and how hard life was…you don't let it beat you down. “To me, John Henry had a determination,” Gloster said. And he also knew the joy to be able to provide for his family.”įor Gloster, the story of “John Henry” was a lesson from her grandfather about hard work and perseverance. “And he also knew the ins and outs because his father got killed in the coal mines. “He knew what it took to go in those mines and to work,” Gloster said. In the painting, her Daddy is singing “John Henry” while all the children dance in the yard. One of her recent paintings shows her childhood home in North Carolina, with her Mama and Daddy both sitting on the porch.

Gloster thinks her grandfather was drawn to John Henry because the story resonated with his experience as a coal miner-another job that is physically demanding and dangerous. “And after he would sing it one time we'd say, ‘Daddy, sing it again. “Daddy would sing ‘John Henry,’ and when he didn't sing it, we'd ask him to sing it,” Gloster said. Whenever he was back home with the family, Gloster said he was always singing and telling stories. Her grandfather, who she calls 'Daddy,' traveled back and forth from North Carolina to West Virginia to work in the coal mines.

HENRY RAILROAD STORY FULL

Gloster was raised by her grandparents in a house full of other children. She grew up in a historically African American community in Lenoir, North Carolina where she lives today. Gloster is in her 70s and was born in McDowell County, West Virginia. All our lives, from children to adults, we've always heard that song. “I can't remember not hearing it,” Gloster said. Theresa Gloster of Lenoir, North Carolina grew up hearing her grandfather sing “John Henry.” Gloster and her family continue to sing “John Henry” at family gatherings.

Henry railroad story