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The Hero Journey of
George Washington Carver (Feb, Mar, Apr 2013)
Summary of home school
novel study class….
George was born a
slave, on the Carver farm, in Diamond Missouri in 1864. He came with great
gifts; including the ability to work with and heal plants of all kinds; the
artistic ability to reproduce the natural world in water colors; the music
ability to learn to play the piano and sing; and the power of perseverance that
helped him learn and grow and serve against horrific odds; and he bought an
innate faith in God. All theses gifts had to wait for opportunity to appear.
George faced harsh
roadblocks from the very start. He was kidnapped, with his mother, while still
a toddler. His mother was never seen again; George was found wrapped in a
blanket on the chilly ground, and returned to the Carver farm. He was tiny and
very ill, coughing long enough and hard enough to damage his vocal chords and
impare his speech development for years to come; he remained physically small
and weak throughout childhood. He had no opportunity to socialize; no clothing
except cast-offs; was often the object of racist rejection, treated poorly
because of the color of his skin.
Great mentors were
place along his path. Mrs. Carver came first; devoted to keeping the baby
alive; proud to show off his gardening skills as he grew. Mr. Jaeger of the
grape vineyards recognized ‘his hands were those of a gardener’ and gave him
the confidence to believe in himself; Uncle Andy and Aunt Mariah took him under
wing when he started school; the Seymour’s did the same later; when he was an
older student wanting to go to college; Mrs. Seymour’s nephew, Dan Brown was a
significant mentor, helping George get into Seymour college; later he met a
mentor professor, James Wilson, who gave him space to sleep in his office at
Iowa State University; where he received his bachelor of Science and taught
botany for several years after
graduation and was in charge of the greenhouses. All the while, George gives
credit to God for his gifts and opportunities; his growth and preparation.
When the letter comes
from Booker T. Washington at Tuskegee College. George is ready to accept the
call, to step across the threshold and serve.
Washington wants him to
come to Alabama and operate the agricultural part of a new college for black
students only. George sends back three words, “I will come”.
Challenges are waiting
and large. George must create a laboratory from scratch; equipment scrounged
from cast-offs and trash. He shows the people how to care for the soil, adding
nutrients and rotating crops. He leads them into a better way of life. He goes
on a piano tour to raise money for the school and comes home with a realization
of the desperate needs of the farmers and creates a farm demonstration wagon
filled with the latest equipment that is taken out to where the knowledge is
needed most.
He promotes the raising
of peanuts to the farmers who know nothing but cotton. He invents several
hundred products from the peanut and a hundred more from the sweet potato to
convince the farmers of the value of rotating crops. He walks in the woods
first thing every morning, to take his questions to “Mr. Creator”. He returns
to his workbench to carry out God’s instructions.
Governments and
industry notices; he is consulted for council and advice. His peanut/sweet
potato powder helps keep soldiers alive during war. He is given honors (awards
and degrees) and asked to speak to significant groups. He is made uncomfortable
by all the attention; He remains a creative, humble and inspired servant of God
all his days.
George Washington
Carver died at Tuskegee in January 1946; an incredibly long life for one who
suffered so much. Thousands lined up for his funeral; monuments were erected in
his honor.
He served his
community, a hero. A ship was christened ‘The George Washington Carver‘ in his
honor. His gifts manifest themselves in his perseverance and service to his
community. He is a great example of the Hero Journey we can all study and
emulate with pleasure.
