Overview of the music that came out of African American railroad workers. Shots of steam trains moving along the tracks. (Wide shots, moving shots, and wheel close ups). Men work along one railroad track while a train passes by. A man straddles the railroad track, watching as workers in gloves, hats, and overalls work with shovels, singing. A group of men sing the blues in rhythm with the sound of their hammers breaking rocks. Shots of a chain gang: CU of feet in shackles, WS of a line of men in striped clothes walking in a line.