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written by Maryann N. Weidt Did you know that when Matthew Henson and Robert Peary traveled to the North Pole they ran behind, not on, sleds that were 12 feet long with runners made of walrus tusks? In 1909, after 18 years of expeditions, they were the first men to reach the North Pole. Although instrumental to this achievement, Henson was denied the accolades that should have followed because he was African American. It was not until more than thirty years later that people outside of the African American community gave him the recognition he deserved. The History Maker Bios series offers introductions to the lives of historical figures found in the core of every history curriculum. Filled with fascinating true stories and illustrations, photographs, artwork, and historically accurate caricatures, each title in this lively series will entertain and inform readers. |
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In simple language, this book describes the life of the first African American to travel to the North Pole, but the emphasis is on his explorations. Born to poor sharecroppers in 1866, Henson was on his own by the time he was 13. He later met Robert Peary, and, in 1891, the two men set off for Greenland. He returned to the Arctic in 1893, 1898, and 1905. He and Peary and four Inuit finally reached the Pole on April 6, 1909. Despite his accomplishments, Henson still had a hard time finding a good job. Thirty-one years after being buried in a humble grave in New York City, Dr. S. Allen Counter arranged through President Reagan to have Henson and his wife reburied at Arlington National Cemetery. Black-and-white photos appear on most pages, and each chapter begins with a colored drawing. This open-formatted, easy-to-read biography will inform and keep the attention of young readers. |
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