In 1912, Matthew Henson published an account of his 23 years exploring with Commander Robert Peary and their 1909 journey to the North Pole in A Negro Explorer at the North Pole. In 2009 on the 100th anniversary of the journey, Matthew A. Henson’s Historic Arctic Journey was published. It includes Henson’s original story plus a forward by Commander Peary and an introduction by Booker T. Washington.
Matthew Henson was born in Maryland in 1866, just after the abolishment of slavery. His parents died when he was a child. With no one to care for him, he became a worker on a ship that sailed the world. He quickly became an expert navigator. Then when he was in his early 20s, he met Commander Peary, which marked the start of a long partnership of exploration.
At the time Commander Peary chose Henson to accompany him on his quests to reach the North Pole, several fellow explorers criticized him for allowing a black man to join the expedition. The two finally reached the North Pole on the 6th attempt. With his endurance and survival skills, Henson played a critical role in the success of the final expedition, often taking the lead on many tasks. However it was Peary who received all the recognition and glory upon their return from the North Pole; Henson was forgotten. He spent 30 years working for US Customs in New York. It wasn’t until 1944 that Henson was awarded a Silver Medal of Honor for his role in the expedition. Other awards soon followed.
In Henson’s Historic Arctic Journey, readers will learn about the great cold weather exploration skills Henson possessed and how crucial a role they played in the crew’s success. His own words are written much like a diary, with details about the Eskimos, crew members and the dogs they used for exploration. There are also some excellent black and white photos of Henson in the middle of the book. Considering the time of these events, it was virtually unheard of for an explorer of this type to be black; Henson was truly ahead of his time. I found it fascinating to read of his endurance and resilience. Anyone who appreciates American history, black history or the thrill of risky exploration will enjoy reading this book too.
Debbie Glade is the Geography Awareness Editor for Wandering Educators.