Description

Most people know him as the "Peanut Man," but did you know George Washington Carver never actually invented peanut butter? In this episode of pplpod, we dig into the soil of history to uncover the true legacy of the agricultural chemist Time magazine once dubbed the "Black Leonardo".

Born into slavery in Missouri and kidnapped by night raiders as an infant, Carver rose to become one of the most prominent scientists of the early 20th century. We follow his incredible journey from a wandering student in Kansas to becoming the first African American faculty member at Iowa State, and finally to his legendary 47-year tenure at the Tuskegee Institute.

Join us as we discuss:

• The Soil Savior: How Carver championed "chemurgy" and crop rotation, teaching farmers to replace soil-depleting cotton with nitrogen-fixing crops like peanuts, soybeans, and sweet potatoes.
• Tuskegee Tensions: The brilliance and administrative struggles within his complex relationship with Booker T. Washington.
• Myth vs. Reality: Debunking the peanut butter folklore while highlighting his true contributions, including practical bulletins that helped poor farmers achieve self-sufficiency.
• Fame and Faith: From his 1921 testimony before Congress that made him a national celebrity to his deep belief that science and God were one and the same.

Discover how this pioneer of environmentalism and organic movement left a legacy that went far beyond the laboratory, donating his life savings to ensure his work would continue to uplift the world.