This woman raised my mother.

That's where this story begins, which has been in the making for my entire life. Lou Della Evans-Reid is a Gospel Music icon, especially here in Chicago. And telling her story, and the story of the music she helped influence is my next documentary project.

January 5th, 2020.

Exactly one year ago today with the help of my brother Eric, we started filming for The Gospel of Lou Della. Our Aunt Lou Della attends the First Church of Deliverance in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood on the southside. It was the first Sunday church service of the year and we thought filming on this day could be an integral part of the story. Looking back, we had no idea how important this shoot would turn out to be considering how the world would change a few months later.

This small Black town, population just over 2000, has been inundated with flooding for centuries. With each flood, a little more of the town erodes. This is a picture of the oldest church in North Carolina, one of many historic landmarks in Princeville that is in danger of being washed away. Environmental racism continues to plague towns like Princeville all across the country as residents are often left to deal with the recurring problem every season. Freedom Hill documentary tells the story of the town and the people that live there.

Filming with family. Follow Bikevessel.com to get more updates on the documentary film Eric D. Seals and I are producing on our father.