Is it racism or just mistakes?
One author claims there are no examples of Henson being able to write.
Yet there are many examples of documents written by Matt, including a
book and a magazine article.
An "expert" claims Matt couldn't spell his own name and didn't
know what year he was born. Do you believe that just because the man
says he is an expert? (Who else says he is an expert other than his
friends?)
The UK Gaurdian says it is the best newspaper in the world; but
we have proof it made mistakes. Do people lie? Do people make
mistakes?
Always check the facts; the most authentic and original sources and
even then make sure those are accurate.
Look at these documents at right: Matt could read & write.
He could spell his name correctly.
One "expert" claims Henson's wife wrote for him. But then did she go
to work with him at his Civil Service job and write for him? No, of
course not!
Matthew Henson was an intelligent man who could read and write. He
wrote a magazine article in 1910, went on lecture tour, wrote his own book, worked at the New York Customs House as a Clerk
and retired on a Civil Service pension. Then he became a distinguished
member of the Explorers Club. When my father met him in 1946 then set
to work to write Matt's biography together.
Many people are lazy; they do not check facts and believe whatever
they read. If an author claims to be "an expert" they believe that,
too.
Henson did not grow old parking cars, or work as a
bellhop carrying luggage. Maybe some racist would like you to believe
that or maybe the newspapers and magazines and book authors just keep
passing around the same misinformation. Wonder why? Is it because they
all copy each other (yes!) instead of checking the facts? Yes, some
people copy misinformation until lies are accepted as facts.
This is why we provide you with the source documents so you can see
the truth.
(right)
This is a very interesting letter.
It shows that Henson was helped by a political recommendation for a
promotion to clerk but they found out he was "already eligible."
Henson was appointed to the Civil Service by President Taft in 1913.
But the job was only as a "messenger boy." Still, this was a
remarkable advancement for a Negro way back then.
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