George Washington Carver: Scientist & Symbol

McMurry, Linda O. George Washington Carver: Scientist and Symbol. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1981.



Tumbledown was a little annoyed by the adoring tone that sometimes seemed to permeate the descriptions of Carver in the early sections of the book, thinking they sometimes veared toward hagiography. This perception changed when, on closer inspection, it was obvious that the assessments that annoyed most were contemporary with the man. The sweeping generalizations--that Carver was a genius, a great teacher, a great lecturer, and the like--were for the most part embodied in numerous quotes from Booker T. Washington, James Wilson (former teacher at Iowa, and Secretary of Agriculture, head of USDA), and correspondence from Carver's students. Careful reading of this George Washington Carver biography reveals that the author, though sympathetic with the subject, is also critically aware of Carver's weaknesses. The refrain (also from Carver) that he was a starter and a dreamer, not a finisher, an inspirer of others and a popularizer, not a groundbreaker or highly original Tuskegee scientist (which is not to diminish the significance of his innovations on and original applications of already formulated ideas, especially, as McMurry suggests, in the direction of aiding those "fartherest down") is proof enough of a somewhat fair and balanced treatment. This, alongside descriptions of Carver's at times stormy relations with Bridgeforth and Washington, are enough to put thoughts of hagiography to rest. (The idea of Carver as symbol, especially of the New South, seems to be reaching a bit far. But even here the treatment is not unremittingly positive.)

Why would Tumbledown read and recommend this biography of a scientist and academic? Because Carver's life's work was dedicated to the improvement of small, diversified farms and their habitants at precisely the time that "most agricultural researchers were heading in another direction. Increasing amounts of federal and state funds were piped into mechanization and efficiency projects that aided the big agribusiness units, not the small farmer" (p. 92). Carver, as everyone knows, taught farmers to grow more than one crop--to supplement cotton with peanuts and sweet potatoes. (Though less famously, Carver also experimented with and recommended soybeans and alfalfa and the raising of animals on Southern farms.) Though the Tuskegee web site hardly mentions Carver (Booker T., the other "Washington" is everywhere lauded), the title of this year's Annual Farmers Conference is a continuing tribute to Carver's interests and influence: "Sustainable Small-Scale Family Farms in the Southern Black Belt: Nurturing the Land and its people."

Overall, an excellent introduction into an important subject--and an easy read for an academic title. Though the book does not provide the details (peanut recipes or specific crop recommendations) of Carver's work, it is well documented and therefore provides a beginning point for further research into this important contributor to the welfare of small, diversified farms. And what could be better for Black History Month?

Additional Reading:
Holt, Rackham. George Washington Carver: An American Biography. Doubleday, Doran and Company, 1943.