Context

This line was written by George Washington Carver in letter to Booker T. Washington (April 12, 1896).

George Washington Carver was a well-respected botanist at Iowa State University (and their first Black faculty member to actually teach classes) when Booker T. Washington wrote to him and offered him a job at the Tuskegee Institute. Washington wanted Carver to run the Agricultural Department mostly because he was the best of the best, but also because he was Black and Washington was committed to keeping the staff at Tuskegee all Black.

Unfortunately, Washington couldn't offer much in the way of Benjamins—Carver would have to take a pay cut. But wouldn't he consider doing it for the sake of inspiring the next generation of Black botanists?

In this line from the letter he wrote back to Booker T. Washington in April of 1896, Carver explains just how committed he is to cause of Black education. He knows that education is the thing that's gonna help lift Black people to a better life. In his metaphor, it's the key to unlock the door to everything that's holding them back.

It's interesting that this quote often edits out the line "our people" at the end. Make no mistake, Carver is talking about Black folks here. He knows that white people don't need the same help and advantages that Washington is trying to create at Tuskegee. It's no surprise that Carver took the job at Tuskegee and went on to teach and innovate there for the next 47 years.

Where you've heard it

Graduations and college brochures are the perfect place to drop this quote. Anywhere education and knowledge are unlocking doors, this quote will be welcome.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Education is the key to almost every good and awesome thing in life so go ahead and quote this little tidbit of wisdom without any fear of looking pretentious, you wise, old owl you.