Black Innovators in the Americas
In celebration of Black History Month in the USA we salute two innovators, Ralph Gilles now CEO of Dodge and George Washington Carver famous for his work with peanuts. This is our opportunity to highlight some achievements made by African-Americans that helped shape our very existence.
Ralph Gilles
Ralph Gilles is currently President and Chief Executive Officer – SRT Brand and Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC. He is a modern day innovator whose influence on the Chrysler 300 literally brought the Chrysler brand back from the grave. He was born to Haitian immigrants in New York City. Gilles holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Michigan State University (2002) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Industrial Design from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit (1992).
Gilles is credited for leading the team of designers behind some of the most award-winning vehicle ever such as the 2005 Chrysler 300, the 2005 Dodge Magnum, 2006 Dodge Charger, 2006 Dodge Viper Coupe, and the all new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan.
In the spirit of innovation we also celebrate George Washington Carver best known for discovering over 300 uses for peanuts. It is black history month in the United States and we thought to use this opportunity to highlight some achievements made by African-Americans that helped shape our very existence.
George Washington Carver
Upon completion of his B.S., professors Joseph Budd and Louis Pammel convinced Carver to continue at Iowa State for his master’s degree. In addition he did research at the Iowa Experiment Station for two years. His work at the experiment station in plant pathology and mycology gained him national recognition as a botanist. In 1896, Booker T. Washington, the President of the Tuskegee Institute, invited Carver to head its Agriculture Department. He 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, and taught generations of black students farming techniques for self-sufficiency.
The list below showcases the functional use of peanuts in various products that George Washington Carver discovered:
| Foods | Butterscotch | Medicines |
| Salted Peanuts | Lard Compound | Rubbing Oil |
| Peanut Butter, regular (3) | Evaporated Milk | Iron Tonic |
| Breakfast Food #1 | Sweet Pickle | Tannic Acid |
| Butter from Peanut Milk | Golden Nuts | Medicine similar to Castor Oil |
| Breakfast Food #2 | Cheese Cream | Emulsion for Bronchitis |
| Pancake Flour | Substitute Asparagus | Castor Substitute |
| Breakfast Food #3 | Cheese Pimento | Goiter Treatment |
| Peanut Flour (11) | Cheese Nut Sage | Oils, Emulsified w/mercury for Venereal Disease (2) |
| Breakfast Food #4 | Cheese Tutti Frutti | Quinine |
| Peanut Surprise | CheeseSandwich | Laxatives |
| Breakfast Food #5 | White Pepper, from Vines | |
| Malted Peanuts | Pickle, Plain | Cosmetics |
| Bisque Powder | Cocoa | Hand Lotion |
| Peanut Meal, brown | Peanut Dainties | Face Lotion |
| Peanut Meal #1 and #2 | Peanut Kisses | Face Cream |
| Meat Substitutes | Bar Candy | Vanishing Cream |
| Chocolate Coated Peanuts | Peanut Wafers | Face Bleach and Tan Remover |
| Chili Sauce | Stock Foods | Baby Massage Cream |
| Peanut Cake #1 and #2 | Peanut Stock Food #1,#2, and #3 | Shampoo |
| Peanut Brittle | Peanut HullMeal | Oil for Hair and Scalp |
| Dry Coffee | Peanut Hull Stock Food | Shaving Cream |
| Cream Candy | Molasses Feed | Pomade for Scalp |
| Instant Coffee | Peanut HullBran | Face Ointment |
| Peanut Flakes (2) | Peanut Hay Meal | Glycerine |
| Peanut Hearts | Hen Food for laying (peanut hearts) | Face Powder |
| Chop Suey Sauce | Peanut Meal (3) | All Purpose Cream |
| Mock Oysters | Fat Producing Cream | |
| Mayonnaise | Household Products | Tetter and Dandruff Cure |
| Worcestershire Sauce | Laundry Soap | Toilet Soap |
| Peanut Meat Loaf | Sweeping Compound | Antiseptic Soap |
| Peanut Food #1 | Pomade for Skin | |
| Shredded Peanuts | Beverages | Peanut Oil Shampoo |
| Peanut Sprouts | Peanut Orange Punch #1 | |
| Peanut Bisque Powder | Peanut Lemon Punch | |
| Peanut Tofu Sauce | Peanut Koumiss Beverage | |
| Cooking Oil | Peanut Punch #2 | |
| Cream for Milk | Normal Peanut Beverage | |
| Salad Oil | Beverage for Ice Cream | |
| Buttermilk | Peanut Beverage Flakes | |
| Mock Meat | Blackberry Punch | |
| Mock Goose | Plum Punch | |
| Mock Duck | Evaporated Peanut Beverage | |
| Mock Chicken | Cherry Punch | |
| Mock Veal Cut | Pineapple Punch | |
| Milks (32) | ||
| Curds | ||
| Vinegar | ||
| Crystallized Peanuts | ||
| Peanut Relish #1 | ||
| Peanut Sausage | ||
| Peanut Relish #2 | ||
| Flavoring Paste | ||
| Peanut Chocolate Fudge | ||
| Oleomargarine | ||
| Peanut and Pop Corn Bars | ||
| Dehydrated Milk Flakes | ||
| Peanut Bar #1 | ||
| Caramel | ||
| Peanut Tutti Frutti Bars |
