Episode 13: Shorts: John Henry, with the Burden brothers of "A Burden for the Times"

Toon My Heart

In this first Toon My Heart episode for 2025, Tracy is taking a look at Disney's 2000 animated short film, "John Henry," about the black folk hero and his famous competition against a steam drill. And she's joined by the Burden brothers, hosts of "A Burden for the Times," a podcast all about clarifying conversations on culture and race. They discuss whether representation matters in media and how it can be done right, the real history behind the legend of John Henry and whether that affects how we view the film, how this tale of self-sacrifice and leading others to a promised land reminds us of the Gospel, and more. Find out director Mark Henn's faith shines through in this small but mighty animated film.
Mentioned in this episode:

• A Burden for the Times: https://www.aburdenforthetimes.com
• "A Black Hero Comes Up Short" by Jim Hill (Orlando Weekly): https://www.orlandoweekly.com/arts/a-black-hero-comes-up-short-2262183
• "American Legends (featuring John Henry)" by Ben Simon: https://animatedviews.com/2007/american-legends-featuring-john-henry
• The Tiara Talk Show: Interview with Director Mark Henn for 15th Anniversary of "John Henry": https://tammytuckey.com/the-tammy-tuckey-show/interview-with-director-mark-henn-for-15th-anniversary-of-john-henry
• "Mark Henn: Disney Animator on Frozen, Christian Faith and Fairy Tales" by Hannah Goodwyn (CBN): https://cbn.com/article/christian-life/mark-henn-disney-animator-frozen-christian-faith-and-fairy-tales
• John Henry by Roark Bradford, illustrated by J.J. Lankes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_(novel)
• Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry, the Untold Story of an American Legend by Scott Reynolds Nelson: https://www.amazon.com/Steel-Drivin-Man-Untold-American/dp/0195341198
• "The Ballad of 'John Henry' Elicits Varied Feelings For Some Black Appalachian Residents" by Nicole Musgrave: https://wvpublic.org/the-ballad-of-john-henry-elicits-varied-feelings-for-some-black-appalachian-residents
• The Bancroft Brothers Animation Podcast: Mark Henn: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mark-henn/id911802874?i=1000641496547
• The Bancroft Brothers Animation Podcast: Why We Left Disney: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-we-left-disney/id911802874?i=1000504727924
• "The Legend of John Henry" (1974): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLRBzT7VbXc
• "John Henry and the Inky-Poo" (1946): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VoTLLb08R4 (beginning at 43:40)
• Light of the World movie: https://lightoftheworld.com

Music by REDproductions, sourced from Pixabay.com
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