George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver, was an American botanist and inventor who also founded Tuskegee University. He was born into slavery in Diamond Grove, Newton County, near Crystal Place, now known as Diamond, Missouri. The exact day and year of his birth are unknown; he was born into slavery in Missouri, either in 1861, or January 1864.
Booker T Washington praised Carver as "one of the most thoroughly scientific men of the Negro race with whom I am acquainted." from his 1911 memoir, My Larger Education: Being Chapters from My Experience.
During the last two decades of his life, Carver seemed to enjoy his celebrity status. He was often on the road promoting Tuskegee University, peanuts, and racial harmony.
Although he only published six agricultural bulletins after 1922, he published articles in peanut industry journals and wrote a syndicated newspaper column, "Professor Carver's Advice". Business leaders came to seek his help, and he often responded with free advice. Three American presidents—Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge and Franklin Roosevelt—met with him, and the Crown Prince of Sweden studied with him for three weeks.
From 1923 to 1933, Carver toured white Southern colleges for the Commission on Interracial Cooperation.
Quotes
- "Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom." George Washington Carver
- "When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world." George Washington Carver
- "I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in." George Washington Carver
- "Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses."
- "Fear of something is at the root of hate for others, and hate within will eventually destroy the hater." George Washington Carver
- "Nothing is more beautiful than the loveliness of the woods before sunrise.
Where there is no vision, there is no hope." George Washington Carver
- "Learn to do common things uncommonly well; we must always keep in mind that anything that helps fill the dinner pail is valuable." George Washington Carver
- "If you love it enough, anything will talk with you." George Washington Carver
- "There is no short cut to achievement. Life requires thorough preparation - veneer isn't worth anything." George Washington Carver