Where Are All the Black People?
Ericka Hart
Tuesday, 16 Oct 2018 at 7:00 pm – Great Hall, Memorial Union
Ericka Hart is an activist and sexuality educator, and is currently an adjunct at Columbia University's School of Social Work. Diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer at the age of 28, Hart realized that neither her identity as a queer black non-binary femme nor her sex life as a survivor, was featured prominently in her treatment. She will share her unique perspective on challenging anti-blackness and the importance of addressing sexual expression and human health at their intersections with race, gender, chronic illness and disability. Hart has a Master's of Education in Human Sexuality from Widener University and has taught sexuality education for elementary aged youth to adults across New York City for 10 years.Hart's work in sexuality education was catalyzed by her service as a Peace Corps HIV/AIDs volunteer in Ethiopia from 2008-2010. Her work broke ground when she went topless showing her double mastectomy scars at Afropunk Fest 2016. Since then, she has spoken at colleges and universities across the country, been featured in countless digital and print publications including Essence, Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, Refinery 29, and has a running PSA on Viceland.
Audiences around the world admire Ericka for her ability to use what has swelled to a cult following on social media among young QTPOC (Queer and Trans People of Color) cancer survivors, activists, artists, medical professionals alike to assert the personal as political and challenge anti-blackness everywhere it rears its head - from the front pages of magazines, runways to the university.
Cosponsored By:
- Center for LGBTQIA+ Student Success
- College of Human Sciences
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Diversity & Inclusion Committee
- Gamma Rho Lambda
- Margaret Sloss Women's Center
- Multicultural Student Affairs
- Recreation Services
- Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority
- Society for the Advancement of Gender Equity
- Sociology
- Student Wellness - Green Dot
- Thielen Student Health Center
- Women's & Gender Studies Program
- Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government)
Stay for the entire event, including the brief question-and-answer session that follows the formal presentation. Most events run 75 minutes.
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