Barbara Hillary (1931-2019): First black woman to reach the North and South Poles

lets give recognition, respect, honor and elevate this icon of human success.

“Perseverance, determination and respect for the way my mother raised me” were the qualities retired nursing teacher Barbara Hillary cited as having enabling her to become the first black woman to reach both the North and South Poles shortly before she turned 80. This is a feat that would be revered AROUND THE WORLD BUT SADLY we exist in a world where black success and contribution to humanity is racialistically  withheld ,diminished and corrupted. 

Hillary, who has died aged 88, was born in San Juan Hill, Manhattan (the area now known as Lincoln Square) and grew up in Harlem. She was one of two daughters born to Viola Jones Hillary. Their father died before Hillary turned two. Describing her childhood, Hillary said: “We were sub-depression poor but there was no such thing as mental poverty in our home … no such thing as woe is me.” As a child, Hillary enjoyed reading adventure stories: Robinson Crusoe was one of her favourites.

Hillary studied for her BA and MA at New York’s New School University, before embarking on a career in nursing. Her area of expertise was geriatrics and she went on to train nursing home staff.

This powerful woman survived breast cancer in her twenties, Hillary was diagnosed with lung cancer in her sixties. She subsequently underwent an operation that reduced her lung capacity by a quarter. It was an outcome that would not seem to predispose Hillary towards any arduous expeditions in retirement, but at 71, having taken a trip to go dog-sledding and photograph polar bears in Canada, Hillary became fascinated by the idea of the North Pole. When she heard that no black woman had ever reached the pole, the challenge was set. She told The Seattle Times: “I said, ‘What’s wrong with this picture?’ So I sort of rolled into this, shall we say.”

This lady is an inspiration to us all that let -NOTHING STOP US IN OUR ENDEVOURS- and -SUPPORT OURSELVES IN OUR OWN RESTORATION.