Matthew Henson :: Essays Papers

Matthew HensonGreat Men Have Great AssistantsAs I stood there on the top of the world and I thought of the hundredsof men who had lost their dwells in their effort to reach it North Pole, I feltprofoundly grateful that I had the note of representing my race. With these words,Matthew Henson planted the American flag on the North Pole.During the past, black Americans have not received theacknowledgement they deserved. Such was the case of Matthew A. Henson. He wasthe first person to discover the North Pole, although Robert Peary is usually creditedwith this feat. Henson passed away in relative obscurity, in 1955, and was not givenrecognition until 1988, when he was reburied in Arlington National burial site withfull honors.Matthew Henson was born on August 3, 1866 in Baltimore, Maryland.He was raised in Carrol County. At an early age, Hensons mother died, leaving himalone to live with his father. Unfortunately the family experienced problems with theKlu Klux Klan. To escape the pro blems and make a better life for his son, Hensonsfather moved the family to Washington, D.C.. While Hensons father worked, hetook consider of the elderly uncle they lived with. While still living in WashingtonHensons father died, leaving him in care of his uncle. The uncle was mean andabusive to the point that it caused him to romp from the only home he had. Forawhile, Henson wandered the streets. He was a poor, ragged, and uneducated kid.What could he offer to someone to earn a living? Finally, he came to a minorrestaurant. The owner hired Henson to sweep and mop the bedights, clean the kitchenand wash the dishes. Henson had no place to stay so they owner let him sleep on thefloor of the restaurant after closing.One day, Henson saw a sign advertising a ship captain looking foryoung men to work on his ship. Since he had nothing better to do, Henson decidedto sign up. That was the beginning of Hensons sailing career. For the rest ofHensons teenage years, Henson sailed around the world. He learned overmuch aboardthe ship such as mathematics, navigation, the operations of a ship, and how to readbooks and maps. By the age of 21, Henson was a skilled and experienced sailor. Between his terms at sea, Henson would sometimes work to earn alittle money. One job he had would change the course of his life. While a store clerkin Washington, D.