'The Call of Antarctica:' How a Rochester, Minn. man became first Black man on the continent
In his life, George W. Gibbs, Jr., had been a Rochester, Minn. resident, World War II vet, civil rights activist, IBM company employee and small business owner.
But one of his most exciting adventures was being shipmate and fellow explorer on Admiral Richard Byrd’s third expedition to Antarctica — a role that would make him the first person of African descent to step foot on the continent. He kept diaries—and those diaries are fodder for a new book by his daughter.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
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Audio transcript
CATHY WURZER: On Minnesota Now, we love to take trips into our state's history in a segment we call "Minnesota Now and Then." Back on November the 7th in the year 2000, Rochester, Minnesota, resident George W. Gibbs Junior died on the very same day he'd been born 84 years before. In his life, he'd been a World War II vet, a civil rights activist, IBM company employee, and a small business owner.
But one of his most exciting adventures was being shipmate and fellow explorer on Admiral Richard Byrd's third expedition to Antarctica, a role that would make him the first person of African descent to step foot on the continent. Mr. Gibbs kept diaries of his journey to the cold and snow of the Antarctic. Those diaries are the fodder for a book written by his daughter, Leilani Raashida Henry, The Call of Antarctica. Thanks for coming on Minnesota Now, Leilani. How are you?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Hi, Cathy. I'm doing well. It's a beautiful day in Colorado.
CATHY WURZER: I'm so glad you're with us. Thank you. Say, I understand this book almost didn't come to fruition. Tell me about the diaries. I understand they were misplaced for a time?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: They were. My mother found them behind the dresser after my father passed away. He thought he'd lost them forever, so we were delighted. Even though he didn't get to see them again, we were delighted to find them.
CATHY WURZER: I understand your dad was in the Navy as a young man, and he was still in the Navy when he was chosen to go on this expedition. How did that all come about?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Well, he had been in the Navy for four years, served his time, got out for the 90 days. And on the 89th day, he had a conversation with his father because he was looking for work, and the only work he had was at a paper mill, which was dirty, long hours, sweaty, and not treated very well at this paper mill.
And so his father said, the Navy is probably your best option. So on the 89th day, he had one day to get his physical and reenlist. And at the time, he wanted to go to Spain to help them with their cleanup after their Civil War. The United States Navy said, well, we're not going there, but you could volunteer to go to Antarctica with Admiral Byrd. And so he did.
CATHY WURZER: Any idea-- was he initially hesitant, or was it just full speed ahead?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Well, honestly, he didn't know anything about Antarctica. I'm sure he had heard of Admiral Byrd, but he didn't know about Antarctica. So he jumped in with both feet not knowing what he was getting into.
CATHY WURZER: What was his role in the expedition?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: He was mess attendant third class. He was the lowest rank on the ship. And what was I think very exciting is that, as the lowest ranking member, all hands on deck-- it didn't matter what color the hands were. If we need you, we'll put you here. And so he had a lot of experiences that he wouldn't have had if they had stuck to his job duties, meaning the kitchen and cleaning and making beds and that sort of stuff.
CATHY WURZER: So he's on the trip. And of course, Antarctica is an unforgiving place, to say the least. I remember that they made landfall in 1940? Is that right?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Yes, it was January 14, 1940, after 39 days at sea.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, I can't even imagine that. I understand that your dad was the first crew member off the ship.
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: He was. I think that that was all orchestrated now that I have seen other diaries and other journals. The scientists-- a couple of the scientists-- and Admiral Byrd started to think, what was a way that we could acknowledge George Gibbs and the work that he had done? He won two awards, so-- let's see. So it was an honor. Basically, they wanted to bestow the honor on him of getting off of the ship, so that's what happened. They knew that once he set foot, he would be the first person of African descent in the world to do that.
CATHY WURZER: Wow. As I mentioned-- and I'm sure you wrote about this in the diaries-- it's an unforgiving place. It is dangerous, even for the well-prepared. Did your dad have any close calls while he was there?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Well, he fell into a crevasse on his own. Now, you can't walk by yourself anywhere, and if you do, a lot of it is marked. But yeah, he fell into a crevasse, got himself out.
He did have some hardships with a couple of the crew members who were middle management, so to speak, and didn't want him there at the time of Jim Crow. They weren't working with Blacks, and they were uncomfortable and resentful. So he had close calls in terms of some of the interpersonal dynamics.
And also, the ship was stuck in the ice a few times. The sister ship went back to Chile to get supplies just in case they were going to be stuck for a year on the ship until the ice melted.
CATHY WURZER: Oh my gosh. I know there's other things he wrote about in those diaries that are in the book that are actually pretty interesting when it comes to life in Antarctica. I'll let people get the book and read them. I bet that reading those diaries was an eye-opening experience for you.
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: It definitely was. I didn't know anything about Antarctica. I didn't know anything about my father's experiences because my father was about 20 years older than my mother, so all this happened before he had a family. So I knew that my father was friendly and everybody liked him and that he was a community leader.
But I had no idea of the trials and tribulations that he experienced, nor did I know literally anything about Antarctica. So it was quite an experience, quite a research process for me.
CATHY WURZER: Your dad, as I mentioned, died in 2000. And in 2008, he was remembered in two significant ways. What were they?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: So there's a school named after him, George W. Gibbs Junior Elementary-- Gibbs Elementary. And then in 2002, there was a street named after him near Soldiers Field Park in Rochester. There was also-- Gibbs Point was named for him, also-- I believe that was 2009-- for his service.
CATHY WURZER: Gibbs Point?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: In Antarctica.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, in Antarctica.
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Yes. It's a point on top of a mountain that's near Margarita Bay where they did a lot of the work.
CATHY WURZER: You know what, Leilani? You've got to somehow go to Antarctica and check this out.
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Well, I don't know about going to Gibbs Point, but I have been. I did go in 2012 for a very short time, and I happened to go to King George Island-- no relation. And I landed on Ernest Shackleton's 138th birthday.
CATHY WURZER: Oh my goodness. Wow. So where can people get the book?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: I have a website, thecallofantarctica.com, and there are some resources there about where you can get it. You can also get signed copies from myself, the author.
CATHY WURZER: Wow, what an undertaking. I bet your dad would be really proud.
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: I think he would. And also, I think that he's orchestrated a lot of the things behind the scenes-- if anyone believes in afterlife-- because the synchronicities and the things that have happened to me in the last 20 some years-- there's a book just with the things that happened to me, because I quit several times. I got very discouraged. I met people on airplanes-- all kinds of things to make sure that this book was going to happen.
CATHY WURZER: And I have no doubt that somewhere he is helping you along, that he's the guiding hand in all of this. And of course, finding the diaries when everyone thought they were lost-- that was the first step.
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Yes, exactly. Honestly, we didn't even he had diaries, so that was even a greater secret.
CATHY WURZER: Big surprise. Leilani, I appreciate the conversation. Thank you so much.
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: It's great talking to you, Cathy.
CATHY WURZER: Likewise.
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Thank you.
CATHY WURZER: Thank you. We've been talking to Leilani Raashida Henry, the author of the book, The Call of Antarctica. Check it out by getting a copy of her book on her website.
But one of his most exciting adventures was being shipmate and fellow explorer on Admiral Richard Byrd's third expedition to Antarctica, a role that would make him the first person of African descent to step foot on the continent. Mr. Gibbs kept diaries of his journey to the cold and snow of the Antarctic. Those diaries are the fodder for a book written by his daughter, Leilani Raashida Henry, The Call of Antarctica. Thanks for coming on Minnesota Now, Leilani. How are you?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Hi, Cathy. I'm doing well. It's a beautiful day in Colorado.
CATHY WURZER: I'm so glad you're with us. Thank you. Say, I understand this book almost didn't come to fruition. Tell me about the diaries. I understand they were misplaced for a time?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: They were. My mother found them behind the dresser after my father passed away. He thought he'd lost them forever, so we were delighted. Even though he didn't get to see them again, we were delighted to find them.
CATHY WURZER: I understand your dad was in the Navy as a young man, and he was still in the Navy when he was chosen to go on this expedition. How did that all come about?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Well, he had been in the Navy for four years, served his time, got out for the 90 days. And on the 89th day, he had a conversation with his father because he was looking for work, and the only work he had was at a paper mill, which was dirty, long hours, sweaty, and not treated very well at this paper mill.
And so his father said, the Navy is probably your best option. So on the 89th day, he had one day to get his physical and reenlist. And at the time, he wanted to go to Spain to help them with their cleanup after their Civil War. The United States Navy said, well, we're not going there, but you could volunteer to go to Antarctica with Admiral Byrd. And so he did.
CATHY WURZER: Any idea-- was he initially hesitant, or was it just full speed ahead?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Well, honestly, he didn't know anything about Antarctica. I'm sure he had heard of Admiral Byrd, but he didn't know about Antarctica. So he jumped in with both feet not knowing what he was getting into.
CATHY WURZER: What was his role in the expedition?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: He was mess attendant third class. He was the lowest rank on the ship. And what was I think very exciting is that, as the lowest ranking member, all hands on deck-- it didn't matter what color the hands were. If we need you, we'll put you here. And so he had a lot of experiences that he wouldn't have had if they had stuck to his job duties, meaning the kitchen and cleaning and making beds and that sort of stuff.
CATHY WURZER: So he's on the trip. And of course, Antarctica is an unforgiving place, to say the least. I remember that they made landfall in 1940? Is that right?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Yes, it was January 14, 1940, after 39 days at sea.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, I can't even imagine that. I understand that your dad was the first crew member off the ship.
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: He was. I think that that was all orchestrated now that I have seen other diaries and other journals. The scientists-- a couple of the scientists-- and Admiral Byrd started to think, what was a way that we could acknowledge George Gibbs and the work that he had done? He won two awards, so-- let's see. So it was an honor. Basically, they wanted to bestow the honor on him of getting off of the ship, so that's what happened. They knew that once he set foot, he would be the first person of African descent in the world to do that.
CATHY WURZER: Wow. As I mentioned-- and I'm sure you wrote about this in the diaries-- it's an unforgiving place. It is dangerous, even for the well-prepared. Did your dad have any close calls while he was there?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Well, he fell into a crevasse on his own. Now, you can't walk by yourself anywhere, and if you do, a lot of it is marked. But yeah, he fell into a crevasse, got himself out.
He did have some hardships with a couple of the crew members who were middle management, so to speak, and didn't want him there at the time of Jim Crow. They weren't working with Blacks, and they were uncomfortable and resentful. So he had close calls in terms of some of the interpersonal dynamics.
And also, the ship was stuck in the ice a few times. The sister ship went back to Chile to get supplies just in case they were going to be stuck for a year on the ship until the ice melted.
CATHY WURZER: Oh my gosh. I know there's other things he wrote about in those diaries that are in the book that are actually pretty interesting when it comes to life in Antarctica. I'll let people get the book and read them. I bet that reading those diaries was an eye-opening experience for you.
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: It definitely was. I didn't know anything about Antarctica. I didn't know anything about my father's experiences because my father was about 20 years older than my mother, so all this happened before he had a family. So I knew that my father was friendly and everybody liked him and that he was a community leader.
But I had no idea of the trials and tribulations that he experienced, nor did I know literally anything about Antarctica. So it was quite an experience, quite a research process for me.
CATHY WURZER: Your dad, as I mentioned, died in 2000. And in 2008, he was remembered in two significant ways. What were they?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: So there's a school named after him, George W. Gibbs Junior Elementary-- Gibbs Elementary. And then in 2002, there was a street named after him near Soldiers Field Park in Rochester. There was also-- Gibbs Point was named for him, also-- I believe that was 2009-- for his service.
CATHY WURZER: Gibbs Point?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: In Antarctica.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, in Antarctica.
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Yes. It's a point on top of a mountain that's near Margarita Bay where they did a lot of the work.
CATHY WURZER: You know what, Leilani? You've got to somehow go to Antarctica and check this out.
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Well, I don't know about going to Gibbs Point, but I have been. I did go in 2012 for a very short time, and I happened to go to King George Island-- no relation. And I landed on Ernest Shackleton's 138th birthday.
CATHY WURZER: Oh my goodness. Wow. So where can people get the book?
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: I have a website, thecallofantarctica.com, and there are some resources there about where you can get it. You can also get signed copies from myself, the author.
CATHY WURZER: Wow, what an undertaking. I bet your dad would be really proud.
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: I think he would. And also, I think that he's orchestrated a lot of the things behind the scenes-- if anyone believes in afterlife-- because the synchronicities and the things that have happened to me in the last 20 some years-- there's a book just with the things that happened to me, because I quit several times. I got very discouraged. I met people on airplanes-- all kinds of things to make sure that this book was going to happen.
CATHY WURZER: And I have no doubt that somewhere he is helping you along, that he's the guiding hand in all of this. And of course, finding the diaries when everyone thought they were lost-- that was the first step.
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Yes, exactly. Honestly, we didn't even he had diaries, so that was even a greater secret.
CATHY WURZER: Big surprise. Leilani, I appreciate the conversation. Thank you so much.
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: It's great talking to you, Cathy.
CATHY WURZER: Likewise.
LEILANI RAASHIDA HENRY: Thank you.
CATHY WURZER: Thank you. We've been talking to Leilani Raashida Henry, the author of the book, The Call of Antarctica. Check it out by getting a copy of her book on her website.
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