麻豆约拍

Matthew Henson was working in a shop when he met naval officer Robert Peary. Peary was so impressed with Henson that he invited him to accompany him on his expeditions to Central America. The two men formed a strong bond and over the course of two decades made multiple trips further and further North in a bid to reach the Pole. On April 6th 1909 Peary announced that they had reached the Pole but many believe that it was actually Henson who got there first, and on returning to the USA it was Peary who received the credit whilst Henson lived out his life in relative obscurity. His part in this expedition was overlooked for years, due in no small part to his skin colour.

Dwayne Fields was born in Jamaica but grew up in East London. After having a gun pulled on him he decided he needed to do something bold and life-affirming, and in 2010 Dwayne joined an expedition to walk to the North Pole. He became the first Black Briton to do so. Whilst researching his trip he read about Matthew Henson, and seeing a face that looked like his and knowing what Henson overcame helped inspire him. Dwayne and presenter Matthew Parris are joined by the writer Catherine Johnson who was written two children's books about Henson citing Henson's relationship with the Inuit people as something that set him apart from many other explorers of the time.

Produced for 麻豆约拍 Audio in Bristol by Toby Field