George Washington Carver grew up in slavery and went on to become one of America’s most famous scientists and environmentalists. The informative and inspiring documentary George Washington Carver: An Unusual Life explores this remarkable arc.
The film touches on the highlights and challenges of Carver’s life with great sensitivity and sensitivity. With the help of renowned scholars from all fields, viewers get a sense of not only Carver’s monumental accomplishments, but also the personal obsessions that brought them to life.
After being freed from slavery at a young age, Carver grew up “an orphan of a despised race.” Early on he developed a deep love of nature that would shape his later life. He recognizes the divinity in the natural environment and makes it his mission to harvest the elements to create a better life for others. He valued mindfulness and waste, and found ultimate freedom in indulging his insatiable wonder and curiosity.
He was appointed Professor of Agriculture at Tuskegee University in Alabama by Booker T. Washington, a position he has held with pride for nearly half a century. Arriving in the South forced him to question his preconceived notions about the region, gave him a new sense of purpose, and opened his eyes to explore new frontiers in agriculture. Through his work, he revolutionized agriculture and, in the process, improved the lives of low-income African American farming families. He lives by the motto “Service Determines Success”. At his core, he was an environmentalist whose ideas were ahead of their time.
The film traces Carver’s troubled origins, the influences that shaped him as he grew up, the beliefs that guided him into service, and the love of humanity that led to many of his greatest achievements. Artist, geologist, scientist, poet, and Bible scholar, Carver was a true Renaissance figure whose legacy continues to inspire generations to come.
George Washington Carver: An Uncommon Life is an important portrait of a great figure in American and world history.
Directed by: Laurel Bower
