rest ofHenson’s teenage years, Henson sailed around the world. He learned much 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.C., he met Robert Peary and was hired as his valet for a trip tosurvey canal sites in Nicaragua in 1887-88. Beginning in the year 1891, heaccompanied Peary on many expeditions to the Arctic. The kinship that Henson hadestablished with the Eskimos and his resourcefulness with handling equipment madehim indispensable to Peary in polar explorations. On April 6, 1909, six men made afrenzied dash for the North Pole. They were (in order from first to last) MatthewHenson, followed by four Eskimos pulling Robert Peary on a sled (his feet werefrostbitten). Henson outran them all, becoming the first man to reach the North Pole.Peary handed him the American flag, which he planted at the site in the snow. Hethen posed for a picture with the four Eskimo guides who led Henson and Peary tothe top of the world.Matthew Henson’s contribution to humanity was this polar excursion.This paved the way for other extensive journeys to the Pole and similar places. IfHenson and Peary had not made this journey others might not have been motivatedto explore new and different places, which is why this is still relevant today. Thisalso gave meaning to racial equality. Henson proved that even though he was blackhe could do anything he put his mind to. There were many other momentous happenings also going on at thistime. National Conference on the Negro convened May 30, leading to founding ofthe National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The NAACP isorganized at New York following a January meeting in the apartment of W. E.Walling...
