Alvin Poussaint

Few fans realized that the inspiring force behind The Cosby Show and its spin-off, A Different World, was in fact world renowned psychiatrist Dr. Alvin Poussaint, a man known more for his insightful studies into the needs of the African American family than for his screenwriting talents. One of the country’s top authorities on subjects ranging from multiculturalism to family dynamics, Poussaint has advised the State Department, the Department of Health and the FBI on racial issues. Due to his passionate advocacy for more positive black images in American culture, Poussaint was chosen as the script consultant for both of Cosby’s hit NBC series. It was his influence that helped The Cosby Show and A Different World become some of the most revered programs in television history, while concurrently breaking new ground in the depiction of African Americans in the media..

Veteran of the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi, Poussaint is an expert on the dynamics of racial and ethnic relations in America’s increasingly multicultural society. His work has diagnosed the symptoms and prescribed the remedies for almost every social malady affecting African American’s today. Firmly believing that the family unit shapes an individual’s choices, Dr. Poussaint’s research shows how changing family patterns, increased competition in the workplace and disruption in our communities often results in divorce, violence and neglect. In his thoughtful presentations, Poussaint teaches audiences how to balance these important issues to create powerful, positive solutions.

Drawing on his years of research, Poussaint speaks with refreshing candor on the dynamics of prejudice and the necessities of diversity. Author, psychiatrist, educator, and respected social critic, he educates on the use of media as a learning tool and the impact of televised violence on children and families. Always informative and insightful, Dr. Poussaint leaves audiences with poignant messages on how they can strengthen themselves, America and the world.