Matthew Henson was the first American to stand on top of the North Pole in 1909. He was a skilled sailor, craftsman, linguist, and arctic survivalist. A life that was truly amazing from the very beginning, he weathered harsh conditions (both physical and societal) and with so much against him, Henson and four Inuit teammates managed to plant the stars and stripes at the top of the world. The leader of the expedition, Capt. Peary received the glory back home while Henson’s contributions would take nearly 40 years to be recognized. The role of race in America is threaded in the tapestry of our shared history but Matthew Henson’s story is one of true exceptionalism and triumph in the face of nearly impossible odds. Join Wendy as she takes us through the life and history of this American hero, adventurer, and history maker in our latest episode. Join us as we shine the light of truth on one of the heroes of history who has been buried in the shadows for too long.