George Washington Carver

Their lives intersect on the page of history titled George Washington Carver. A mutual interest in Carver brought them together: Frank Godden, an 83-year-old who knew the humble scientist, and 48-year-old Abdul-Salaam Muhammad, who meticulously researched his childhood hero. Ask the men about Carver, and the response is the same. They recite long lists of his agricultural discoveries. They speak passionately of the creations he gave the world, while asking nothing in return.

I let Black History Month slide by this year without writing anything about it. I am so over celebrating firsts or reprising triumphal narratives. But news from last month did suggest that we may need a black history lesson - one that goes beyond Rosa Parks on the bus or George Washington Carver's magic with peanuts. The Census Bureau announced last month that the word "Negro" is being dropped from its lexicon. Next year, when the government conducts its Annual American Survey, folks like me will have two options on census forms: black or African American.

Leading figures from American history will come alive at Crosby Elementary School's living wax museum on Friday from 9 to 11 a.m. Sixth-graders will dress up to portray Henry Ford, George Washington Carver, Babe Ruth, Gen. George Armstrong Custer and Pocahontas. As visitors tour the exhibits, the motionless figures spring into action to share stories of their lives and accomplishments. The event will be held in the school cafeteria, 12181 West St. Information: (714) 663-6346.

  Dr. George Washington Carver's sliced sweet potato pie Total time: About 2 hours, plus chilling and cooling times Servings: 8 to 12 Note: Adapted from "Southern Pies" by Nancie McDermott. She does not recommend a specific crust to go with this pie; we've chosen a butter-shortening piecrust from the book, and brushed the top of the pie with an egg wash for extra sheen and color. Show us your photos: If you try this recipe, send us photographic evidence: Click here to upload pictures of the finished dish.

I let Black History Month slide by this year without writing anything about it. I am so over celebrating firsts or reprising triumphal narratives. But news from last month did suggest that we may need a black history lesson - one that goes beyond Rosa Parks on the bus or George Washington Carver's magic with peanuts. The Census Bureau announced last month that the word "Negro" is being dropped from its lexicon. Next year, when the government conducts its Annual American Survey, folks like me will have two options on census forms: black or African American.

Tracey Ullman, the star of one of the lowest-rated shows on television, Fox's "The Tracey Ullman Show," opted to cancel herself, so her show (scenes from its skits above) won't be returning this season. Suppose you had such authority and could cancel any show on television. We would like you to name not one but three--and tell us why you would pull them off the air. Send responses to Tell TV Times, TV Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, Calif. 90053. Or fax them to (213) 237-7630.

Born to a slave two weeks before the end of the Civil War, George Washington Carver rose to stunning heights as a scientist, educator and humanitarian. The Diamond Grove plantation, where the man who would revolutionize American agriculture spent his boyhood, is now the George Washington Carver National Monument, administered by the National Park Service. It's the first monument of its kind dedicated to an African American. The park sweeps across 210 acres of rural southwestern Missouri.

Forty-three years ago, Carlton Moss wrote "The Negro Soldier," a wartime documentary film that many still regard as a milestone in helping to break down racial stereotypes. But Moss, still an active film maker, and a Comparative Culture Program lecturer at UC Irvine, contends that Hollywood's portrayals of blacks remain grossly distorted.

  Dr. George Washington Carver's sliced sweet potato pie Total time: About 2 hours, plus chilling and cooling times Servings: 8 to 12 Note: Adapted from "Southern Pies" by Nancie McDermott. She does not recommend a specific crust to go with this pie; we've chosen a butter-shortening piecrust from the book, and brushed the top of the pie with an egg wash for extra sheen and color. Show us your photos: If you try this recipe, send us photographic evidence: Click here to upload pictures of the finished dish.

I find it disturbing that Treadwell did not mention the name of Dr. George Washington Carver, the African-American genius, who established the star quality of the peanut. NOBLE NOLCOX Los Angeles

Leading figures from American history will come alive at Crosby Elementary School's living wax museum on Friday from 9 to 11 a.m. Sixth-graders will dress up to portray Henry Ford, George Washington Carver, Babe Ruth, Gen. George Armstrong Custer and Pocahontas. As visitors tour the exhibits, the motionless figures spring into action to share stories of their lives and accomplishments. The event will be held in the school cafeteria, 12181 West St. Information: (714) 663-6346.

Their lives intersect on the page of history titled George Washington Carver. A mutual interest in Carver brought them together: Frank Godden, an 83-year-old who knew the humble scientist, and 48-year-old Abdul-Salaam Muhammad, who meticulously researched his childhood hero. Ask the men about Carver, and the response is the same. They recite long lists of his agricultural discoveries. They speak passionately of the creations he gave the world, while asking nothing in return.

Born to a slave two weeks before the end of the Civil War, George Washington Carver rose to stunning heights as a scientist, educator and humanitarian. The Diamond Grove plantation, where the man who would revolutionize American agriculture spent his boyhood, is now the George Washington Carver National Monument, administered by the National Park Service. It's the first monument of its kind dedicated to an African American. The park sweeps across 210 acres of rural southwestern Missouri.

Tracey Ullman, the star of one of the lowest-rated shows on television, Fox's "The Tracey Ullman Show," opted to cancel herself, so her show (scenes from its skits above) won't be returning this season. Suppose you had such authority and could cancel any show on television. We would like you to name not one but three--and tell us why you would pull them off the air. Send responses to Tell TV Times, TV Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, Calif. 90053. Or fax them to (213) 237-7630.

Forty-three years ago, Carlton Moss wrote "The Negro Soldier," a wartime documentary film that many still regard as a milestone in helping to break down racial stereotypes. But Moss, still an active film maker, and a Comparative Culture Program lecturer at UC Irvine, contends that Hollywood's portrayals of blacks remain grossly distorted.

This week's subject: African American history What do civil rights, peanut butter, automatic traffic lights and open-heart surgery have in common? They are a few of the valuable contributions African Americans such as Martin Luther King Jr., George Washington Carver, Garrett A. Morgan and Daniel Hale Williams have made to our daily lives. Explore the many achievements of African Americans through the direct links on The Times' Launch Point Web site. Go to: http://www.latimes.com/launch/

It has become increasingly annoying and disheartening to see and hear the growing amount of nerd-bashing that continues to take place in the print and nonprint media. Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison and Benjamin Franklin were nerds. Frederick Douglass and George Washington Carver would have been nerds had they not lived during times of slavery and legalized bigotry. Chopin and Beethoven were nerds. Jonas Salk is probably a nerd. What did these nerds have in common? They were all readers.