An American Hero: George Washington Carver

Written By: Jim Swanson  |  Posted: Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

It is a sad fact that most of the heroes young people choose to emulate today have done nothing heroic. Perhaps they can play a game or sing, but their lives demonstrate few qualities worthy of being examples to follow. George Washington Carver is an exception, not just for black people, but for all Americans. His early life was filled with setbacks that would cause most to quit. Yet today some call him one of American's greatest scientists.

George was born in Missouri during the Civil War on the Moses and Susan Carver plantation. His parents were slaves. George's father died right before George was born. While George was still a baby, slave traders called "night riders" kidnapped George and his mother. The Carvers paid a man to find and return them. However, he was only able to find the baby. The Carvers, though very poor, were determined to raise the baby and his brother as their own.
As a result of exposure, George developed whooping cough and was sickly until he was nine. This made it difficult for him to do hard labor so he did cooking, sewing, and gardening.

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