“Be-Loved”

A powerful 26-minute documentary by Damaso Reyes and Andre Lambertson at New York Amsterdam News introduces audiences to a man who grew up in Harlem and spent the first part of his life as a “part of the problem.” Be-Loved talks about his time selling drugs, being involved in gun and other violence and overcoming that part of his life. 

Be-Loved was nicknamed Bad News before he dropped the nickname while in prison. He now works with the Living Redemption Community Development Corporation, a community-based nonprofit in New York City that focuses on local youth. Be-Loved talked candidly about his life and is honest with young kids in the community about the issues they are facing and how they can change if they want.

The documentary was part of the publication’s “Beyond the Barrel of the Gun” reporting project, which explored the causes, impact and solutions to gun violence in Black and brown communities. The project was a result of the team members seeing a space to go deeper than just covering gun violence. The goal was to try and understand why tragedies keep occurring and consider possible solutions.

Be-Loved’s story shows his journey from a perpetrator of violence to someone actively working in his community to reduce it. 

The documentary takes audiences into the life of Be-Loved and the cause he is so deeply passionate about in a way that just a print article would not. It does what video journalism does best, adding voices, color and emotion to the project.

Article by: Abbi Ross