Who is Ericka Hart? What happened to her? Well, this is the question that is causing people’s minds to whirl these days. So, let’s delve a little more into this woman’s life to learn more about her and how she died. Well, the aptly titled ‘The Principles of Pleasure’ is a Netflix original unlike any other, focusing on the various myths, anxieties, and truths surrounding the realm of women’s desire and satisfaction.
After all, this three-parter covers everything from personal discovery to sex with a partner, from eroticism to the force of authentic female orgasm. And among those professionals assisting us in our understanding was none other than Ericka Hart, a sexual, radical, and social justice educator, so let’s find out everything there is to know about her, shall we?
Who is Ericka Hart?
Who is Ericka Hart? Ericka Hart, a queer, nonbinary human (she/they), is a sex educator and former professor who developed an interest in pleasure (like the rest of the world) as a child. She wanted to be able to talk about sex — specifically, safe sex — without feeling embarrassed, so she pursued a profession in the field, maintaining an open mind to learn more. In 2008, the psychology graduate from the University of Miami began her professional life as a Peace Corps volunteer as a Health Extension Advisor in Ethiopia, only to return to the United States in 2010.
Advertisement
Ericka was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer at the age of 28 in May 2014, and she endured not only chemotherapy and a double mastectomy, but also reconstructive surgery. With a family history of the condition, she knew it was serious, but despite expert assistance, the lack of knowledge and representation made her feel as though her physical autonomy had been abandoned. That’s why the Black cancer survivor, who was already pursuing a Master’s degree in sex education, opted to concentrate on systemic patriarchy and anti-black stereotypes in her line of work.
Also Read: Maurice Byrd Murder: How Did Maurice Byrd Die?
Where is Ericka Hart Now?
Ericka Hart is an activist, sex educator, and model who now lives in New York with her partner Ebony Donnley (a writer and sound engineer). She is also a writer and the host of the ‘Hoodrat to Headwrap’ podcast. Ericka is well-known for going viral in August 2016 for attending the AFROPUNK music festival topless and for walking the fashion runways, but it’s also worth noting that she has given multiple public speeches in an attempt to promote awareness and bring about equity. Her ultimate goal is to see the existing systems dismantled, demonstrating to the world that people can be whoever they choose to be.
Advertisement
“[AFROPUNK] is mostly a black, youthful, and gay music festival,” a former adjunct professor at Columbia School of Social Work once explained. “I wanted to show other black, young, queer individuals that we, too, are affected by breast cancer.” Because the majority of breast cancer advocacy campaigns and infomercials ignore the black queer experience. They’re cis-heteronormative in nature.”
Ericka also pulled her shirt off to not only be viewed as a cancer survivor, but to reclaim her sexuality for good, according to her op-ed on the AFROPUNK website. She wanted to refute the assumption that she is no longer a sexual being because she navigates the world as someone who has faced a chronic illness and had a double mastectomy. That specific feature, she admitted, was never truly gone.
“I am a firm believer in the abolition of anti-black racism. In 2021, the high school student advocate in New York told Yahoo, “The end of transphobia, the end of classism, the end of fatphobia.” “I truly want my presence, as well as the topics I speak about and teach about, to cause a stir. Not merely my presence, which I am well aware is a hindrance. So be it if that means walking down the runway to be in a setting that frequently excludes Black folks who look like me.”
Advertisement
Also Read: David Wintermyer Murder: Who Killed Him?