Chester Middlebrook Pierce facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chester M. Pierce
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| Born |
Chester Middlebrook Pierce
March 4, 1927 Glen Cove, New York, U.S.
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| Died | September 23, 2016 (aged 89) |
| Occupation | Psychiatrist |
| Known for | Harvard University Professor, Senior Consultant for Sesame Street, Creator of term microaggression |
Chester Middlebrook Pierce (born March 4, 1927 – died September 23, 2016) was an important American psychiatrist. He was a professor at Harvard Medical School. He was also the first African-American full professor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Pierce was a senior consultant for the famous children's TV show, Sesame Street. He also created the word "microaggression".
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A Life of Firsts
Chester Pierce was born on March 4, 1927, in Glen Cove, New York. When he was growing up, only a small number of people in his town were African American. Chester became the first African American president of his high school.
He went to Harvard College and earned his first degree in 1948. Then, in 1952, he received his M.D. degree from Harvard Medical School. After medical school, Dr. Pierce trained to become a psychiatrist in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Dr. Pierce also made history in sports. He was the first African American college football player to play against an all-white team in the southern United States. This happened on October 11, 1947, when Harvard played the University of Virginia.
Chester Pierce passed away on September 23, 2016, at 89 years old.
Helping People and Learning
Dr. Pierce wrote more than 180 books, articles, and reviews. His work often focused on important topics like racism, how people get along in society, sports medicine, and the media.
He was a member of important groups like the American Academy of Arts and Science. He also gave guest lectures at over 100 universities across the United States. Even after he retired as a psychiatrist in 1997, he continued to make a difference. In 2002, he organized a big meeting called "African Diaspora." This event brought psychiatrists from all over the world together to talk about important issues. Because of his efforts, a new part of Massachusetts General Hospital, called the Division of International Psychiatry, was started in 2003.
A special portrait of Dr. Pierce was painted and now hangs in the building where he lived as a student at Harvard.
Working for a Better World
Dr. Pierce was a Commander in the U.S. Navy. He also worked as a senior advisor for many health organizations. He was part of 22 different editorial boards for publications. He spent a lot of his time working with groups that help human rights, protect nature, and educate young people.
He was an advisor for the Children's Television Network, which created Sesame Street. He also advised the U.S. Air Force, the Peace Corps, and NASA.
Dr. Pierce was a professor of education and psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He became the first African-American full professor at Massachusetts General Hospital. He was also a past president of important medical associations. From 2001 to 2004, he was part of the Carter Center Mental Health Task force. He was also a founding president of the Black Psychiatrists of America. For 25 years, he worked as a psychiatrist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Understanding Children
Dr. Pierce, along with Gail Allen, helped define a term called "childism." This term describes how children can sometimes face unfair treatment or be seen as less important, simply because they are children. It's about understanding and stopping the unfair ways children might be treated.
