Black History Month / American History

 I don't think American History should be segregated simply because of the color of someones Skin... Haven't we learned anything from our past? Perhaps it's the "Separation and Segregation" of such histories that continue to divide this Nation.

 That being said, each Monday of this month I will choose to Spotlight an American History maker, regardless of their Skin Color, Sex or Choice of Religion.

This Monday, er Today.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 I have chosen, George Washington Carver.

 George Washington Carver was an American Scientist, Botanist, Educator, and Inventor. 

 Carver's reputation is based on his research into and promotion of alternative crops to cotton, such as peanuts, soybeans and sweet potatoes, which also aided nutrition for farm families. 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.

Hard at Work.

 I have a personal soft spot for this mans work... I LOVE Peanut Butter! It's Peanut Butter that caused me to have an interest in this American and his work. I think it was in 3rd Grade when I first started reading books about his life's work. I have always had a particular interest in Science and during this time in my life I would read book after book of Scientists and their contributions to the World. Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, Sir Isaac Newton, Eva Ekeblad, Antoine Lavoisier and many others. I grew up like a sponge soaking it up! Chemistry and Biology were the primary subjects of my study. I loved to create! It's quite possible I would have never shown interest in these fields of Science had I never enjoyed my first "Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich".

 So thank you George Washington Carver and all of your course work, developments, study and innovations at the Tuskegee Institute. One of the smartest men ever! Having first been born into slavery, but bearing no grudge. Instead showing interest in helping his fellow Man and his Country. After the Boll Weevil had done much damage to Cotton all over the South, an alternative crop and mindset was needed. That's where this man, the "Black Leonardo" came in and helped change the world. Thank you Sir!

At The Tuskegee Institute 1902

 "George Washington Carver believed he could have faith both in God and science and integrated them into his life. He testified on many occasions that his faith in Jesus was the only mechanism by which he could effectively pursue and perform the art of science."-Man of science and of God by: Gilmore, Jodie

 Carver viewed faith in Jesus as a means of destroying both barriers of racial disharmony and social stratification. He was as concerned with his students' character development as he was with their intellectual development. He compiled a list of eight cardinal virtues for his students to strive toward:

• Be clean both inside and out.
• Neither look up to the rich nor down on the poor.
• Lose, if need be, without squealing.
• Win without bragging.
• Always be considerate of women, children, and older people.
• Be too brave to lie.
• Be too generous to cheat.
• Take your share of the world and let others take theirs.

 This Man of Great Faith and Science, led the world in a new way of thinking. I'm proud to have him as a Hero and Cultural Icon to look up to. Prior to his death on January 5, 1943, He is quoted as having said:

 "When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world." -George Washington Carver

Want to know more about this Great American? Start at your Local Library.

"There is no shortcut to Achievement" -George Washington Carver

Thank you for your time.