On the occasion of the observance of Black History Month this February, I wish to thank and pay tribute to all African-Americans who have sacrificed and died fighting for and preserving our freedom; who have helped promote peace among humankind; who have made (and continue to make) remarkable accomplishments and significant contributions to our world.

As an American of Filipino descent, having lived in the United States for almost 35 years, I must admit, I have much more to learn about the United States and its many cultures. And I love knowing and learning, especially about the people who have helped shape U.S. history, and made America a great nation.

Reading others’ life stories can be enlightening, inspiring and thought-provoking. But it’s always an educational experience for me, for it does enrich my knowledge of other people’s lives and cultures and their influences.

My legal immigration into America and civilian employment in San Jose, Calif., in the early 1980s, and eventually my military service of 20 years in the U.S. Navy, gave me the opportunity to be exposed to cultural diversity.

Back when I was in naval training in San Diego, Calif., and then working at naval hospitals and clinics, I became aware of how diverse America has been.

Admittedly, having traveled to and stayed in Rome, Italy for one and a half months in 1980, prior to coming to America and eventually joining the U.S. Navy, my exposure to the different cultures, especially those represented in the U.S. Navy, opened my eyes to the beauty and complexity of human diversity.

It helped me a lot to be more understanding, respectful and tolerant to everyone I come in contact with. My knowledge of different cultures increased.

Almost every month, in the U.S. Navy, we celebrated different cultural programs. We have had cultural shows and presentations, and guest speakers came to grace the occasion, giving talks about their roots or historical events of significance. Those programs were educational, enlightening and entertaining to me.

On the other hand, while reading and researching about African-Americans, I stumbled upon George Washington Carver, and I got interested about his life. I found his life story to be quite fascinating and inspiring. I’m nuts about peanuts! Whether it’s boiled, roasted or fried, I just love peanuts!

Believe me when I say that whenever I see, hear about or eat peanuts, I always think about this man as one of the greatest African-Americans in U.S. history. I consider him a role model worthy of emulation, respect and recognition. His humility and simplicity, intelligence, perseverance and creativity, his strong determination to succeed against all odds and his unselfish attitude to help others are beyond compare. He truly exemplifies what a humanitarian is — a person who seeks to promote human welfare.

George Washington Carver was the second African-American honored in the Hall of Fame for Great Americans. (The first was educator and Tuskegee founder, Booker T. Washington.)

He was born around 1860 in Missouri. He was one of two sons of slave parents whom he never knew. He and his brother, James, grew up with slave owners, Susan and Moses Carver. Susan Carver taught him to read and write.

Living on the farm, young George became fascinated with plants and animals. His neighbors used to see him taking care of sick plants. Later, they called him “The Plant Doctor.”

When he was about 10 years old, George left the Carvers and found his way to school. While living with one family after another, serving and working for them, he studied his way through high school. He worked hard and saved his money for college.

Carver attended Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts (now Iowa State University) and studied plants and farming. In 1896, he graduated with a master’s degree. Following his graduation, he was offered to teach and be in charge of the greenhouses at Iowa State College. But he chose to teach and continued his research studies and experiments with peanuts, at Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now Tuskegee University) in Alabama. This all-black school was founded by Booker T. Washington, who encouraged Carver to work there.

Carver taught his students and Southern farmers methods of soil improvement. He also encouraged them to plant not only cotton but also different crops, on rotation, such as sweet potatoes, cowpeas, soybeans and peanuts.

He wrote books showing the many ways people could grow and use peanuts for human consumption. Were it not for his pioneering research and experiments on the different uses of peanuts, sweet potatoes and other farm crops, we would not have more than 300 products, including shaving cream, soaps, breakfast cereals, ink, milk-flour (all from peanuts) and more than 100 products such as rubber, shoe polish and postage stamps — all from sweet potatoes.

With the products he created out of peanuts and sweet potatoes, he could have made himself wealthy by patenting them in his name. But, instead, he just wanted to help improve the lives of the Southerners during his time. He was also considered an environmentalist, because he cared so much for our natural world.

In recognition of his accomplishments and contributions, Carver, “The Wizard of Tuskegee,” was awarded the Spingarn Medal, in 1932, by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

With no wife or children, George Washington Carver died on Jan. 5, 1943, in Tuskegee, Ala. All of his money and savings went to the George Washington Carver Research Foundation in Tuskegee. The foundation allows students today to continue Carver’s legacy of creative research to help those in need.

Chris A. Quilpa, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, lives in Suffolk. Email him at chris.a.quilpa@gmail.com.