George Washington Carver was a complex man who had many gifts. He was a Renaissance man. He was a scientist, teacher, humanitarian, environmentalist, and an artist. He was a spiritual man, and a man of quiet perseverance. Born a slave, George Washington Carver defied the odds. The story of George Washington Carver’s rise from slavery to scientific accomplishment has inspired millions both black and white. Even today, children study the story of Carver, and lists of prominent African Americans contain his name. But time has dulled the luster of Carver’s reputation for genius. He is remembered now as a man who “did something with peanuts.”