A portrait of
George Washington Carver, American
scientist,
botanist,
educator and
inventor, from 1942. Much of Carver's fame is based on his research into and promotion of alternative
crops to
cotton, such as
peanuts and
sweet potatoes. In addition to his work on agricultural extension education for purposes of advocacy of
sustainable agriculture and appreciation of plants and nature, Carver's important accomplishments also included improvement of
racial relations,
mentoring children,
poetry,
painting, and
religion. One of his most important roles was in undermining, through the fame of his achievements and many talents, the widespread
stereotype of the time that the
black race was intellectually inferior to the
white race.
Photo: Arthur Rothstein; Restoration: Lise Broer
