By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – A panel discussion hosted at the Normal Public Library Tuesday night took up the issue of Black Lives Matter and what it means to live a “black life that matters.”

Moderator Art Taylor said the night was about having a community member-to-community member discussion.

“Black lives are as important as any other life,” said Taylor. “The focus for Black Lives is to place that focus on community members who may not have had the same experiences, may not have had the same occurrences.”

Taylor said it’s important to understand what an individual’s experiences are and how they impact each person.

“What I hope tonight is about is that people begin to see each other as individuals and that our own individual experiences make us who we are, no matter what group we belong to,” he said.

The event was organized by the B-N Humanist Group.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].