![]() ![]() ![]() “Racial Discrimination, John Henryism, and Depression Among African Americans.” The Journal of Black Psychology, U.S. John Henry is a symbol of strength, of being able to bear the burdens but also a reminder, not to waste your breathe arguing with those who will never listen. ![]() ![]() John Henryism is named for American folk hero John Henry, “a child born destined to be “a steel-driving man.” The child would grow to have Samsonian strength, working his days on the railroads during the Southern Reconstruction period” (UFCW). The reference to John Henryism speaks to more than just the medical facts, which Rankine mentions herself. Various studies show increases in blood pressures and death rates in African-American men between ages 18-60, particularly those from low socioeconomic backgrounds (Hudson). The narrator hopes to be “bucking the trend” of the physical tolls racism imposes by “sitting in silence” and refusing to engage with racists (p.13). Medically, “John Henryism, which was coined by Professor Sherman James of Duke University, the pressures of systematic racism can harm the body…making it significantly more susceptible to both depression and heart-related disease.” (Roison). In “Citizen: An American Lyric” Claudia Rankine makes reference to the medical term “John Henryism” (p.13), to explain the palpable stresses of racism. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |