On this day, August 8, in 1866

 African-American Explorer Matthew Henson was born in Maryland. Henson, a skilled seaman, often accompanied the White-American Explorer Robert Peary on his Expeditions to reach the North Pole. Finally in April of 1909, Henson, Peary, and 21 Inuit men accomplished their goal, and Mathew Henson became the first explorer to set foot on the North Pole. When Henson and Peary returned to the US, Peary received all the fame and glory for the expedition and Henson was disregarded merely as Peary’s servant. Henson didn’t receive credit until two decades later. Another example of how the accomplishments of people-of-color become virtually invisible.