In pursuing doctoral studies, joy and emancipation are often overlooked facets of the academic journey. Joy, as a state of being, is intimately connected to the erotic--a force that propels students toward the truest expressions of ourselves. This essay delves into the intertwining threads of joy, the erotic, and emancipation within the context of a doctoral program, exploring how these elements shaped Keitha-Gail Martin-Kerr's personal journey. Embracing the erotic, as suggested by Audre Lorde, becomes a means of attuning to an inner power and fostering black joy, especially in predominantly white institutions.