Traded for a Horse
George Washington Carver was born into slavery in Missouri around 1864. Stolen as an infant along with his mother, he was traded for a horse. His mother was never found.
Sickly and small, young George was considered unfit for field work. Instead, he wandered the woods, studying plants. He became known locally as "the plant doctor."
After slavery ended, Carver pursued education despite constant racism. He was accepted to college, then rejected when they saw his skin color. He eventually graduated from Iowa State - the first Black student there.
4am Walks with God
Each morning at 4am, Carver walked alone in the woods, praying and listening to God. "I never have to grope for methods," he explained. "The method is revealed at the moment I am inspired to create something new."
The Mystery of the Peanut
From the peanut alone, he developed over 300 products - dyes, plastics, gasoline, flour, cheese, shampoo, and more. He transformed Southern agriculture and refused to patent most of his discoveries, wanting them freely available to help poor farmers.
"When I was young, I said to God, 'God, tell me the mystery of the universe.' But God answered, 'That knowledge is reserved for Me alone.' So I said, 'God, tell me the mystery of the peanut.' Then God said, 'Well, George, that's more nearly your size.'"
