george washington carver castrated. was george washington carver castrated? george washington carver castration
Black History. I came across an interesting clip from the popular documentary, “Hidden Colors 3.” In it, legendary comedian, writer, and activist Dick Gregory, gave a brief assessment on racism in America. He also said something that was quite startling—George Washington Carver was a victim of castration.
George Washington Carver who is known as one of America’s greatest scientists was born into slavery sometime in 1864. Much of his early life was unknown; but what we do know about this great man is that he was the inventor of many food products that eventually became everyday staples in the diets of Americans.
Carver who never married, devoted much of his time to science and kept himself busy with a plethora of hobbies such as knitting, painting, sewing, and of course his research as it related to agriculture.
Gregory insisted that George Washington Carver was stripped of his dignity and manhood. When Carver was a little boy, he was castrated by the man who owned him. Allegedly, Carver became a house servant and since he was going to spend a majority of time in the house, his owner didn’t want him to rape his daughter, so he took away his ability to mature into a full functioning adult male.
What was also startling about this story is hearing the actual voice of Carver. It was quite high pitched—I can’t even describe it.
So I had to do my research.
While some research states that Carver’s voice was high pitched due to scarring on this throat as a result of developing whooping cough as a child, others state that castration was much likely the cause.
In her 1981 book George Washington Carver: Scientist and Symbol, author Linda O. McMury notes that when asked why he wasn’t married, Carver vaguely eluded to friends in 1937 that an unpleasant event from his past prevented him from ever marrying or having children. He never specified what happened.
Authors Harley Flack and Edmund D. Pellegrino stated in their 1992 book African-American Perspectives on Biomedical Ethics, that Carver had his critical body parts removed by a “Dr. D?ck.” The authors stated that the incident took place when Carver was only 11 years old and he actually approved of the procedure, as he didn’t want to be seen as a threat to society. He also wanted an education and dedicated his life to service. The authors state that Carver’s owner put the young man through the procedure because he “needed a new house servant and companion for his daughter.”
Further proof came from biographer Peter Burchard, who in 2010 did an interview with Iowa Public Radio in which he suggested that castration was also a factor. Burchard stated that a person close to Carver spoke with the doctors who examined him when he died and confirmed that where there should’ve been testicles, there was scar tissue.
What the hell?
In renaissance times, it was quite common that Eunuchs (men who’d had their reproductive organs removed) be used to guard the castle in many European countries. The King would put these Eunuchs in place because they knew that it would be impossible for them to carry on sexual relationships with the Queen and Princess’s of the castle. It’s only feasible to assume that the practice was carried over into slavery.
Although I wasn’t able to gather concrete evidence, I came across many websites that suggested that Black slaves in America were often castrated if they were assigned to work in the homes of their Masters.
Carver’s voice never fully developed because it’s possible that his male hormones never developed properly. Throughout most of his life, people thought he was a homosexual. At one point, he courted a woman by the name of Sarah L. Hunt for three years. But historians suggested that the union lasted until she took a teaching position in California.
Why am I bringing up old stuff again? Because this is another example of the atrocities committed against Black men in this country. I saw George Washington Carver one way before I learned about this atrocity. Now I see him as a victim. Yes, he created a great legacy for himself and is down in the history books as one of the greatest scientists to ever grace American soil. But his right to reproduce was traded in for such an accolade. His right to marry and have sexual relations was stripped away from him.
Nevertheless, he is again one of the greatest scientists in America’s history. Article courtesy www.blacktimetravel.com
16 comments
Article is misleading. None of us know but Carver was very likely NOT castrated. His growth of facial hair was not consistent with a man who was castrated. Stop trying to drum up unfounded hatred of white people.
stop trying to white wash history. White men did atrocities like that to slaves. They raped them, both males and females. They tortured them, killed them
@ Phil, U Must Feel Guilty, Someone Once Said “If It Don’t Apply Let It Fly” That Was A Remark Coming From White Privilege, U Wasn’t Around Dr. George, U Know Nothing Personally About Him, Yet Reading Someone Else’s Remarks It Touched A Nerve In U To Speak Before U Gave Consideration On A Person Of Color Saying ” Damn That Was A Terrible Thing To Do To Someone” Yet U Felt A Need To Retort Because Your Ignorant And Your Color Does Allow U To Be Sympathetic Or Even To Show Compassion To Someone Who Is Sympathetic To Someone Less Fortunate As A Man U Should Feel For The Man Being Mangled Like That And Have To His Life Without Intimacy With Another Person! WTFIWWU!!!!
REPARATIONS NOW!
623 TRILLION DOLLARS TO AFRICANS ON AMERICAN SOIL.
Very disappointing to know. I just watched his autobiography and thought something was off regarding his story. I was wondering why all those white men were being so nice to him during and right after slavery. The castration story definitely makes sense. I wouldn’t doubt he was forced to perform homosexual acts, however. And again, in that case, all the favors make sense. Trying to get away from that, it is understandable why he was willing to take a pay cut and move on to Tuskegee when Booker T Washington called. He was brilliant, however and I am grateful for his contribution to society. Just hate how American history is constantly spun to cover up its grave ills.
Very tragic. Had his mother been around, that would never had happened. Hopefully his sister did grow to adulthood and had children—we will never know though.
Excellent comment on Mr. Carver’s life and on the atrocities of America’s inhuman slavery system. Thank you!
Honestly, how does one address such an act of brutality on a child! I also think of the Apostle Paul and what he endured to hand the world hope and comfort in his words! George Washington Carver has done of the same. His legacy equals his sexuality can anyone see that! Eleven year old children cannot agree to mutilate their bodies! In today’s society we allow our children to decide their sexual preference! This is very wrong! Our children need time to navigate their hearts and minds to what is best for them! They need supportive parents stand praying over their lives! Castration happed in the past to slaves! Must it continue upon our innocent children as well? I’m praying for parents to stand though the heavens fall for their seed as trees upon this earth!
It is truly horrific any way you look at it.
The fact that he was owned by another person is terrible and all the atrocities associated with it for all people who endured slavery it is mind numbingly horrific. To think of having to accept as “life” the distorted reality of not being the owner of your own physical body. Slave masters robbed God’s creation of their temples for greed, and beyond one man’s physical castration, slavery castrated millions of minds. God will work for good what the devil has meant for evil. Repair the damage #reparationsnow
Oh, karma is reaping what they have sown. Look at Ukraine. Tore up, smacked down, and cut down to nothing.
Dr Carver was a brilliant Man. It’s a shame a small minded person decided to do this to him so he could work in his home around his girls. He could have found someone else. This is just cruelty. The things Dr Carver and if he had children could have done.
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