Carver is one of the āGreatest Inventors Of All Timeā
Itās frustrating that heās only known for āinventingā peanut butter. He did so much more.Ā He was born a slave (Carver was his masterās name), succeeded academically despite dismal odds, went on to testify as an expert before the Ways & Means committee in 1921, held seminars for mixed audiences (some of whom were racist and jeered him as he spoke). He taught at the Tuskegee Instituteās agricultural department for many years.
He was never officially given a last name to my knowledge. As a child, he was accustomed to introducing himself as āCarverās Georgeā because his given name was George and the last name of his master was Carver. Shortly after emancipation, he introduced himself as āCarverās Georgeā and a lady said āNo, your name is George Carver nowā and she gave him the middle name of Washington as well.
Carver dedicated his life to improving the standard of living of poor people. He promoted the peanut and sweet potato because the boll weevil (insect pest) had completely demolished the cotton crops on which poor people had made a living. Poor (usually black) sharecroppers suffered the most, because they were the last ones to be paid from the ever dwindling harvests. The peanut and sweet potato were wise investments because they could grow in the same climate.
Carverās ability to get people to change crops actually saved lives.Ā
His testimony earned farmers an instrumental tariff on peanuts and his talks and pamphlets informed uneducated farmers on sound, science-based farming practices which increased their yields (people were still planting according to phases of the moon & other superstitions).
He cared about people, not money.
Throughout his life, Carverās actions demonstrated how little he cared for money. For example, he turned down a six-figure job offer from Thomas Edison. Carver also didnāt spend much on clothes (and consequently was always shabbily dressed).Ā
Ā In 1917, Carver revealed what motivated him: āWell, some day I will have to leave this world. And when that day comes, I want to feel that my life has been of some service to my fellow man.ā When he passed away in 1943, it would seem he had lived just such a life.Ā
Happy Black History Month!Ā
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