Revisiting the John Henry Legend: Racism, Exploitation, and Survival in Whitehead’s John Henry Days

This paper analyses Colson Whitehead’s John Henry Days as a significant reinterpretation of the John Henry legend, emphasising the interconnected themes of racism, labour exploitation, and survival. The narrative explores the African American folk hero, not solely as a representation of resistance to mechanisation, but as a cultural entity moulded by historical trauma and the forces of capitalist commodification. Whitehead integrates historical and contemporary elements, as well as mythological and media narratives, to elucidate the ongoing processes of systemic erasure and appropriation that affect Black labour and identity. The narrative centres on J. Sutter, a contemporary junketeer who participates in a John Henry festival, thereby revealing how modern culture frequently engages with and commodifies history in a superficial manner. The fragmented structure of the novel, characterised by postmodern elements, presents a challenge to conventional heroic narratives. It underscores the dissonance that exists between the mythologised past and the actual lived experiences of African Americans. This analysis examines the enduring impact of slavery and exploitation within contemporary institutions, specifically on the fields of journalism, marketing, and tourism. This study posits that John Henry Days serves to reconfigure the legend as a medium for social critique, emphasising the resilience and adaptability necessary for Black survival within a societal framework that commodifies both suffering and valour. Whitehead's oeuvre necessitates a critical engagement with historical narratives, prompting an examination of the cultural discourses that individuals inherit and perpetuate.