Onward

TheconquestoftheNorthPolewasanelusive,almostimpossiblegoalatthebeginningofthelastcentury.Butasonofpatricianparents,RobertE.Peary,andasonofsharecroppers,MatthewHenson,sharedadreamofconqueringtheunconqueredNorthPoleandwerebraveenoughtorisktheirlivesnumeroustimesbeforetheyfinallysucceeded.Henson'sgreatphysicalstaminaandhisabilitytospeakInuitanddevelopwarmrelationshipswiththepeoplesoftheArcticwereindispensabletothequest.Hemasteredthecomplexitiesofthedogsledandledtheteamacrossthelayersoficethatcoveredthefrigid,threateningArcticOcean.HensonandPeary'sjubilationatfinallyreachingthePolewaslatertemperedbythecontroversythatswirledaroundtheirachievement.Oncetheirdeedwasrecognized,African-AmericanHensonstillwasnot.Ittookhistoryalongtimetohailhimasaheroofexploration.