John Henry (2000)

In the wake of emancipation, John Henry, a former slave, stumbles upon a railroad construction project. A weary crew of freed slaves stands at the brink of exhaustion, their spirits flagging; they've been promised land upon completion, but the deadline looms ominously ahead. John, however, possesses the might of a small army, and his arrival breathes new life into the crew. However, their newfound hope is brutally crushed when the railroad company introduces a steam hammer to replace them and promptly burns their contract. Unwilling to accept defeat, John challenges the machine in a man versus machine contest. Through sheer will and strength, he tunnels through solid rock, wielding two hammers simultaneously in a display of raw power and determination. John emerges victorious, but at a great personal cost, collapsing into his wife Polly's arms. Polly, in turn, narrates this extraordinary tale to their young son, instilling in him the understanding of his father's greatness. Her words weave the story of a man who embodied strength, resilience, and the unwavering spirit of humanity against the relentless march of progress.

John Henry is an animation movie featuring Alfre Woodard and directed by Mark Henn.

It is possible to buy John Henry on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, Vudu and YouTube.