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| Human dignity lives in new book, CDsby Mike MatejkaSteel Drivin’ Man -- John Henry -- The Untold Story of an American Legend by Scott Reynolds Nelson Oxford University Press $25 ISBN 0-19-530010-6 Like a good mystery, full of intrigue and interesting facts and plot turns? Then check out a recent history of a mythic worker, “Steel Drivin’ Man -- John Henry -- the untold story of an American legend” by Scott Reynolds Nelson. By first grade, most Americans have heard or sung at least one version of the folk song “John Henry” -- whether in blues, bluegrass or rock styles. But who was John Henry? Did such a person actually exist? Unraveling the song’s lyrics, Nelson takes us on a journey to post-Civil War Virginia, where newly freed slaves, a conquering Union Army and unrepentant Southern whites vied for power. Nelson finds a real John Henry, a New Jersey worker who probably followed the Union Army south, working behind the lines as a rail or dock worker. Sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for a minor theft, this John Henry was one of hundreds of convicts shipped off at 25 cents a day to build railroads.. These convicts tunneled through the Appalachian Mountains, reviving the Southern economy with their forced labor. Yes, there were steam drills being tested in those mountains, but no steam drill could keep up with the “rock and roll” of a good hammer team (if you ever wondered where the term rock and roll came from, this book will explain). A readable, enjoyable mixture of labor, African-American, musical and cultural history, Nelson keeps the tone light and informative, showing how the musical tale of one African-American convict laborer traveled through the Appalachian hills eventually sung by white coal miners and African-American track layers alike. “John Henry” eventually entered the American song book, a tale of tragedy, hard work and human dignity surviving the most degrading job and social conditions. Few people can name the generals, railroad presidents and state governors who plotted to use convicts as cheap labor -- but every American knows John Henry, the worker who “died with a hammer in his hand.” Mellow music soothes Tangled in Our Dreams CD by Teresa Healy & Tom Juravich Finnegan Music There are no shortage of youthful rock anthems about love and anger, but does anyone write songs from a more mature, mellow perspective? If that’s what you are searching for, check out “Tangled in our Dreams,” a new CD from Tom Juravich and Teresa Healy. Juravich, a labor educator at the University of Massachusetts, and Healy, a Canadian peace activist, have combined for some thoughtful music on not only personal topics, but also larger issues of war, peace and labor rights. There are classics here, like “Bread and Roses,” a song born from the 1912 Lawrence textile strike, and “Mean Things Happening in this Land” by John Handcox. Juravich contributes a Southern Civil War soldier’s longing in “Cold Mountain,” and a thoughtful piece on human connection in the internet age, “Correspondence” and a healing piece, “Let the Music.” Healy’s voice for peace and reflections on the human costs of war echo through “Storm About Us,” “Arabian Nights” and “Song for Peace.” She also contributes “Sweet Friend,” an anthem to human connections. Together, the two penned “Tangled in Our Dreams,” an ode to persistent friendship and a sweet love song, “Great Chazy River.” The music here is mellow, acoustic and relaxing, yet laced with thoughtful lyrics, based on mature relationships and grappling to understand a world filled with hate and warfare. That combination can be a perfect antidote to our often too hectic, too heartless world. Rousin’ tunes from the fields Justice Has No Borders CD by Baldemar Valesquez and the Aguila Negra Band Available from the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, 1221 Broadway, Toledo, OH 43609 www.floc.com How many national union presidents does it take to record a CD? We don’t know the answer, but we do know one who delivers again on his second recording, Farm Labor Organizing Committee president and founder, Baldemar Valesquez. “Justice Has No Borders” is a warm mix of traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex sounds, sung with enthusiasm by Baldermar and his Aguila Negra band. There are traditional Mexican folk songs here, some with adapted lyrics, and an original anthem by Velasquez, “Urbano’s Song,” the story of a North Carolina farm worker who died of heat stroke. There are songs from the border regions, songs about crossing the border, traditional songs from within Mexico and tales of love and struggle. The album concludes with a rousing version of “De Colores,” a song originally written by Spanish Catholic charismatics, that become the anthem of farm workers trying to organize for justice and dignity. This warm and wonderful album not only transmits the sunshine of Mexico and the Texas border, you can imagine it warming the night in some Midwestern tacquerria, as workers gather to rest, relax and plan for the day when their labor is treated with dignity. |