Matthew Henson: To the Top of the World

Matthew Henson: To the Top of the World

Matthew Hanson was a black man born in Charles Country, Maryland, in 1867. By the time he was twelve years old, he worked on a ship where he met a nice captain.

The captain taught him to read and write and the two became great friends. After the captain died, Henson went to work in a hat store. This is when he met Peary had a plan to conquer the North Pole and invited his friend to keep him company and Hanson not only accepted his invitation as he learned the lifestyle of the Eskimos to be able to better help his friend.

Finally, after the 8 th unsuccessful attempt where the Commander Robert had been rescued and saved by his friend Hanson, they have achieved their goal, but only the Commander Robert Peary was recognized by the population and became famous.

Unfortunately, I think that sort of thing still happens often, because types of discrimination whether racial or otherwise are not only problems early in the century, these problems have not yet been resolved and still happen.

Both of them should have received honors for having conquered the North Polo, because one without the other would not have achieved the goal and I think it would be the fairest way of recognition.