To: ican'tbelieveit
Reading through a couple of short biographies of GWC, it seems unlikely to me he would even be remembered if he were not African American. He did not invent crop rotation; crop rotation has been known for hundreds or thousands of years. I can't find a single fundamental contribution of his to science, though I am admittedly not an Ag. Scientist.
He was undoubtedly a scientist, and apparently a good one, like thousands of forgotten individuals before or since. He overcame remarkable obstacles to get where he was (but on the other hand, I tell my students "No one wants to know how hard it was or how long it took"). But the rest of the stuff surrounding him appears to this observer very much like Black-History-Month-style racial tokenism, something I find patronizing and offensive.
Perhaps his admirers might consider being a little more skeptical. And in any case all this is rather off topic.
To: Right Wing Professor
" Only three patents were every issued to him, but among his listed discoveries are: adhesives, axle grease, bleach, buttermilk, chili sauce, fuel briquettes, ink, instant coffee, linoleum, mayonnaise, meat tenderizer, metal polish, paper, plastic, pavement, shaving cream, shoe polish, synthetic rubber, talcum powder and wood stain."
To: Right Wing Professor
I can't find a single fundamental contribution of his to science ... Peanut butter. </sarcasm>
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