Matthew Henson was the first African American explorer to reach the North Pole

Matthew Henson's incredible journey to the top of the world was only the beginning.

February is all about celebrating black history, and throughout the month we'll be honoring influential African Americans whose stories you might not yet know. Some are pioneers in their field, some helped spark the civil rights movement, and all have contributed incredible things to not only black history, but to the history of the United States as a whole.

Watch the video above to discover the incredible story of Matthew Henson, the first African American arctic explorer to reach the North Pole.

Cyclist Marshall 'Major' Taylor broke racial barriers, became world-famous champion

Bessie Coleman was the first African American woman to earn a pilot license

Nikki Giovanni, a poet who helped define the African-American voice