George Washington Carver was an African American scientist and inventor born in 1864 in Missouri. He became the head of the Agriculture department at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, where he taught farmers sustainable farming practices. Carver discovered numerous uses for crops like peanuts, soybeans, and sweet potatoes. He invented peanut butter and helped popularize its use. Carver taught farmers to improve their crops and helped them achieve self-sufficiency through his innovative agricultural techniques.