2022 Dr. George Washington Carver Day

Join us acknowledged a rarely known National Holiday to recognize a great African American scientist.

The lack of recognition mirrors the current reality for California Black Agriculture producers in the #1 Agriculture economy in America, together we will #BuildBackBetter in 2022.

In 1935, George Washington Carver was specifically appointed to the Department of Agriculture by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to address the southern farming crisis.

Among other enactments, he advised farmers to use crop rotation. Carver's accomplishments found that since peanuts and sweet potato crops have nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots, these plants restore nitrogen levels in the soil, which helps other plants like soybeans, potatoes, and cotton to grow better.

Dr. Carver was awarded the Roosevelt Medal in 1939 for saving Southern agriculture, which was later instrumental in feeding the United States during World War II, part of the reason that upon his death on Jan. 5, 1943, Dr. Carver’s hometown was made a National Historic site.

President Harry S. Truman signed the Joint Resolution on December 28, 1945, saying, "I do hereby call upon officials of the Government to have the flag at half staff on all government buildings on January 5, 1946, in commemoration of the achievements of George Washington Carver."

During the 79th Congress, Public Law 290 was passed to designate January 5th of each year as George Washington Carver Recognition Day.

January 5, 2022, from sea to shinning sea, Black Veterans are leading a renewed dedication, determination and design to restore Black Agriculture as the foundation of Black Culture.

Here at our Mather Veterans Plaza, on this sacred land of a former strategic Air Force Base, where many WWII Veterans have great respect for the contributions of Black Veterans, inclusive and equitable treatment remains a challenge.

Established in 1844, Rancho Rio De Los Americanos, former land entitled to Honorable William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr., "African Founding Father of California and ancient land of the Indigenous cultures of Miwok, Nisenan and other First Nation people, all my relations, we pause this 2022 New Year remembering the ancestors and elders.

The sacred science of Dr. George Washington Carver applied with the best of modern appropriate technology will serve us well as we prepare to implement, long delayed plans, Spring 2022.

Give thanks and praise for an amazing journey, together, we will do our part to form a more perfect union, Ready and Forward.