John Henry Days by Colson Whitehead is a novel about John Henry, a famous steel driver during the construction of the C&O railroad. In this novel, the modern man is positioned against the beginning of the industrial age. Whitehead characterizes John Henry as an American legendary hero by comparing him to persons of other occupations stipulated by the railroad industry. Furthermore the author juxtaposes the protagonist, John Henry to Jay Sutter, a journalist of present day America.
             John Henry was a steel driller for a railroad company, whose zeal towards his job and his legendary conquering of the drilling machine made him a legend. John Henry was a physically dominating figure, six feet two weighing a lofty two hundred twenty pounds. Whitehead considers Henry an excellent example of "genus homo," even going as far as calling him "one of the most handsome men in the country." John Henry had the ability to drill more steel then any two men combined. Whitehead emphasis of John Henry's color was secondary to the significance he placed on Henry's ability and talent as a steel driller.
             The cooperative efforts of various positions in the railroad industry was vital the building of the C&O railroad. Those who worked along side John Henry on the construction of the railroad included other drillers, the shakers, the blacksmiths, the blasters as well as the water boys. The Boss or the position held by the highest level in the industries hierarchy was a white man whose lack of concern over his workers is evident in the novel. His main objective was to get the job done, with a "by any means necessary" attitude. In the novel the bosses' uncaring persona was illustrated when the author describes a shakers hand as being accidentally crushed and the bosses lack of concern in getting him medical attention. The boss responded by saying "there was no shortage of niggers.( )" This nonchal...