Poussaint, Alvin

Poussaint, Alvin (Francis)

(1935– ) psychiatrist; born in East Harlem, N.Y. Affiliated with the Harvard Medical School from 1969, he became senior associate professor of psychiatry at Children's Hospital/Judge Baker Children's Center in Boston (1978). A recognized expert on race relations and the psychological and sociological dynamics of prejudice, he consulted widely to corporations and government on issues of race. Because of his belief in the power of media, he gave many public interviews and was script consultant to the National Broadcasting Company's Cosby Show (1984–92).