George Washington Carver

In honor of Black History Month, I want to share one of my favorite stories.   George Washington Carver was born a slave in Missouri in 1864.  While still a baby, he, his mother and sister were kidnapped by a band of slave raiders.  His owner, Moses Carver, was reportedly against slavery but needed help with his large farm.  When George and his family were kidnapped, his owner, went in search of them.  Moses Carver found George and bought him back by exchanging his finest horse.

Moses Carver and his wife raised George as their own son.  George showed aptitude and learned many things from Mrs. Carver.  When George was 11, he left the Carver farm to attend an all black school.  Later, Carver became the first African American to receive a Bachelor of Science Degree and then a Master’s of Agricultural degree. He accepted a position at the Tuskegee Institute.

*(HISTORY.COM EDITORS, George Washington Carver,  UPDATED: FEB, 1 2021, www.history.com)

Carver like to tell the following story:

“‘One day I went into my laboratory and said, ‘Dear Mr. Creator, please tell me what the universe was made for.’  The Great Creator answered, ‘You want to know too much for that little mind of yours.  Ask something more your size, little man.’  Then I asked, ‘Please Mr. Creator, tell me what man was made for.’ Again, the Great Creator replied, ‘You are still asking too much.’  So then I asked, ‘Please Mr. Creator, will you tell me why the peanut was made?’  ‘That’s better,” God answered, ‘That do you want to know about the peanut?'”

*(William Federer, George Washington Carver: His Life and Faith in his Own Words (St. Louis, MO: Amerisearch, 2002) 35. David B. Calhoun, From the Summer 2013 issue of Knowing & Doing: PROFILE IN FAITH George Washington Carver (1860-1943): “…the greatest of these is love” (1 Cornithians 13:13), www.cslewisinstitute.org. 

Carver discovered ~300 uses for the peanut.  His discoveries were used to revitalize the South’s decimated economy.  Later, Carver testified before Congress and won a tariff for the peanut industry.  He credited the Bible for his discoveries regarding the peanut. (Federer, 36)

Carver was no stranger to racism or the struggles of black men.  However, he did not let his struggles define him or prevent him from accomplishing all God had for him.

*(Calhoun,  www.cslewisinstitute.org)

I take great courage, strength, and inspiration from men like George Washington Carver.  Men who, through the power of Jesus Christ, rise above impossible odds to change the world for the better and for God’s glory.

Thank you Mr. Carver for testifying before Congress and the world about our Great God!  Your faith, courage, and determination continue to be an inspiration to many.