This is the time of the year when American politicians want the American government to officially designate February 12th as “Darwin Day.”

Rep. James Himes [D-CT-4] has proposed this in House Resolution 699:

Supports the designation of Darwin Day. Recognizes Charles Darwin as a worthy symbol on which to celebrate the achievements of reason, science, and the advancement of human knowledge.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal [D-CT] has proposed a similar Senate Resolution 374.

But there is a huge problem here.

February is Black History Month and it is remarkably insensitive for both Himes and Blumenthal to interrupt this by proposing a celebration of a white scientist who was not even an American. If we are to celebrate a scientist as a “symbol of science” during Black History Month, why not instead celebrate George Washington Carver?

So let me me propose that to celebrate science, instead of having a Darwin Day, we should have a George Washington Carver Day. Hear me out.

Consider some facts about Carver’s life. First, he was born into slavery.

Second, he was born into slavery.

Do you hear me? Carver was a man who was born into slavery and yet despite all the tremendous obstacles he faced even after slavery was abolished, he went on to become one of the nation’s most famous botanists, playing a pioneering role in crop rotation and recognizing the importance of nitrogen fixation. Here’s an old World War II poster celebrating him as “One of America’s Great Scientists”:

As Americans, there are many good reasons for choosing Carver as a worthy symbol on which to celebrate the achievements of reason, science, and the advancement of human knowledge.

First, and foremost, his life is an inspiration not only to African-Americans, but too all Americans. Despite the tremendous disadvantage of being born into slavery, he found the inner strength to persist and secure an education wherever he could. When his application to several colleges was denied because of his race, he persisted as an amateur scientist, where (according to Wiki), he maintained a small conservatory of plants and flowers and a geological collection. He persisted even more, while supporting himself by manually plowing 17 acres and working various odd jobs until he was eventually accepted into Iowa State Agricultural College in Ames to study botany. He did so well that he went on to get a Master’s degree and his scientific work earned him a national reputation, whereby he was recruited to the Tuskegee Institute to head its Agriculture Department.

According to Wiki:

Carver taught there for 47 years, developing the department into a strong research center and working with two additional college presidents during his tenure. He taught methods of crop rotation, introduced several alternative cash crops for farmers that would also improve the soil of areas heavily cultivated in cotton, initiated research into crop products (chemurgy), and taught generations of black students farming techniques for self-sufficiency.

Second, Carver nicely embodies the attitude of using science to serve humanity. It’s not merely that his research helped to literally feed thousands, but that he sought to educate the public about science. He designed a mobile classroom to take education out to farmers, spoke at conferences, gave testimony before Congress, and developed an agricultural extension program for Alabama.

How can anyone think we Americans should be holding up Darwin as the symbol on which to celebrate the achievements of reason, science, and the advancement of human knowledge instead of Carver? Especially during Black History Month?

Look, we can give a nod to Darwin and still use February 12, 2017 as “Carver Day.” Since Carver was born into slavery, no one knows his birthday. Meaning it could very well have been Feb 12th. The advantage of using this date as “Carver Day” would be that it would be in the middle of Black History Month and thus allow all people of all races to be inspired by his life.

So why choose the British Darwin over the American Carver? Some might argue that Darwin’s work was more revolutionary. But then why Darwin and not Einstein? The advantage of Einstein over Darwin would be a) an Einstein Day would not disrupt Black History Month (since his birthday was in March) and b) there is the immigrant aspect to celebrating Einstein.

But more importantly, the day of celebration is not about picking and choosing what scientific discovery to celebrate. It should be about celebrating the process of science. Carver accomplishes this is a truly inspiring manner. He had every just reason to be angry, vengeful, and bitter about the circumstances of his life. But he instead chose the high road, blending his love of science with a life of service to others. And his science clearly improved the quality of life for millions. Carver was born with chains on his wrists and grew into a man who held out his hands to offer food and knowledge to all his fellow humans.

It would seem to me that it should be resolved, that both the House and the Senate,

(1) supports the designation of “Carver Day” for Feb 12th; and

(2) recognizes George Washington Carver as a worthy symbol on which to celebrate the achievements of reason, science, and the advancement of human knowledge.

And if the politicians insist it should instead be Darwin Day, they need to explain why to ensure it doesn’t have anything to do with institutional racism.