George Washington Carver was an
American botanist and inventor. He was born into slavery in Diamond, Missouri,
around 1864. The exact year and date of his birth are unknown. Carver went on
to become one of the most prominent scientists and inventors of his time, as
well as a teacher at the Tuskegee Institute.
He wanted poor farmers to grow
alternative crops both as a source of their own food and as a source of other
products to improve their quality of life. The most popular of his 44 practical
bulletins for farmers contained 105 food recipes using peanuts. He also
developed and promoted about 100 products made from peanuts that were useful
for the house and farm, including cosmetics, dyes, paints, plastics, gasoline,
and nitroglycerin. He received numerous honors for his work, including the
Spingarn Medal of the NAACP.
During the Reconstruction-era
South, monoculture of cotton depleted the soil in many areas. In the early 20th
century, the boll weevil destroyed much of the cotton crop, and planters and
farm workers suffered. Carver's work on peanuts was intended to provide an
alternative crop.
He was recognized for his many
achievements and talents. In 1941, Time magazine dubbed Carver a "Black
Leonardo".
Quotes
"Education is the key to
unlock the golden door of freedom."
"Where there is no vision,
there is no hope."
He died in 1943.
Source: George Washington Carver
