I Am A Black Man. What does that statement mean? On Thursday Oct 6 at 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. in the Wallenberg Auditorium this question will be addressed by a panel of students, faculty, and administrators.

“I see this as an opportunity to share my experience,” Panelist, and Director in Alumni and Parent Engagement and Advancement, Glen Lloyd said. “In hopes that those who come and participate in the conversation can have an opportunity to hear human accounts to what a black experience is.”

Assistant Director in Diversity Development and Multi-Cultural Office, Kenneth Reid organized the I Am A Black Man panel upon reflection on the shootings of unarmed black persons over the last year and a half. Events that Reid feels effect everyone.

The event will educate students on what is going on in the black community and how that effects the black community on-campus, as well as shed light upon the problem so people can find common ground and work toward a solution.

“Sometimes we need to know what life is like outside of the bubble,” Reid said.

Reid wants this panel to be about making change and stopping the cycle, and providing support to students of color who are effected by recent events. He is disappointed in the lack of dialogue surrounding the issue and hopes that after the panel students will begin showing signs of solidarity.

“It’s an ongoing issue that we shouldn’t forget,” Reid said.

“Frankly it’s the everyday dismissal of blackness, that’s what this is about” – Glen Lloyd

Lloyd hopes that the event will be a form of group therapy, and begin to humanize the black American experience.

“There is nothing unique about me having dark skin when it comes to humanity,” Lloyd said.

Lloyd views the black experience as something that is deeply intertwined with culture. He feels that there are things associated with his skin color that causes him to be aware of things that a lighter skinned person may not realize even exists.

Lloyd hopes that people will be able to interact with his experience and see how their experience differs.  He hopes people will see that systematic oppression and racism has infected our community and show them that blackness is under attack.

“Frankly it’s the everyday dismissal of blackness, that’s what this is about,” Lloyd said.

Currently, Lloyd sees the active decision to not do something about this problem, and is disturbed. He hopes the humanization of the issues this panel offers will fuel individuals to have the conversation, engage, and make progress.

“There is no deeper question,” Lloyd said, “then to consider their active engagement around what it means to be black in America.”