Greetings! Here we are in the middle of March, time is surely flying by! I certainly hope everyone out there who is reading this editorial note is doing well? We can’t thank you enough for your time and work as writers and readers of this amazing one of a kind publication, The Beat Within. One thing we are super excited about is our return to San Quentin. At this point, we are good to go to connect with our writers and friends, whom we have not seen or embraced in over 2 years, thanks to this pandemic. The loyalty and
Continue ReadingTrauma Changed Me
by Gucci “I stood 10 toes, I couldn’t fold or panic, these streets a turn a good kid into a cold lil savage.” -Polo G This quote hit me hard for real because I got a good heart. I didn’t always envision myself as this person I have become. I ain’t gone cap, trauma hit me at a young age, so it changed my thought process early in life. But I believe the younger me before all the pain and trauma would be ashamed of the man I had become. I remember being super young and telling my mom I
Continue ReadingHope
by Ish, San Francisco Hope to me is believing what you believe in and not letting what anybody else says mess up your visions, etc. Hope is important to have because it can help reach goals and can get you very far in life. Hope can also keep you on a good path in life. Hope is also believing something is reachable no matter how impossible it seems and etc. Personally, I have hope.
Continue ReadingMy Peace Is In The Mountains
by JV, Sacramento My most favorite place to go is up in the mountains, next to a lake. It’s very peaceful and not something you see every day. The environment makes you feel freer, and it puts a smile every time I’m up there. There’s a lot of trees and awesome views. When you get to the summit, the first thought would be, “wow”. You get front row seats. Sometimes, you get to see animals like deer, birds, bears, squirrels, etc. My family and friends would bring lots of food to the spot where we have a feast sometime. We
Continue ReadingMy Favorite Song is My Song
by Camron, James Ranch, Santa Clara My favorite song is the song that I made called Camron P-Dear Baby. The song that I made won’t be dropped until I get out. It will be dropped on 11/03/2022, which is my birthday. You can look for that song on SoundCloud and YouTube. But the music video won’t be dropped until 5/03/2023. Now here is the song that’s going to be dropped…(HOOK)Tell me whenAnd tell me whereI swear baby I’ll be thereTell me whenAnd tell me whereI swear baby I’ll be thereTell me whenAnd tell me whereI swear baby I’ll be thereTell
Continue ReadingLove
by Michael Mackey, San Quentin, CA Yes I’ve fallen in love, many different times, and there’s many different kinds of love and different levels of love. In a relationship love does inspire a person to do great things and even bad things as well. Love does take daily work in order for it to stay mostly good. On another note, my birthday is on Valentine’s Day, which in the past was enjoyable. I’ve had a few upsetting birthdays, a few. To me that four letter word love is something that I truthfully am towards others. I was the kid in
Continue ReadingI Don’t Do
by Juan Moreno Haines, San Quentin, CA I recently read something that said the average person lives 900 months. Then, I took my age 64, and multiplied it by twelve. 768. Wow. I have 132 months? Now, imagine how I might feel, having spent the last 321 months in prison. It’ll really ground you into reality. It made me think deeply about this prompt. Today, I don’t do things that I know in my heart is wrong or would bring shame upon me. I don’t have time for that. You may have way more time on this planet than I
Continue ReadingDear Staff At The Beat Within
by Eric M., Youth Facility in Rikers Island in East Elmhurst, New York It can be crazy being a teen! For today, while I was getting my haircut I felt dizzy to the point of passing out. After my haircut I could not stand so I figured I’d feel better after a shower. I placed a chair inside the shower stripped off my clothing and sat in the chair as the cool water hit me. After a bit I was a bit better, I got dressed. I was on my way to see staff out the medical station when I
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Volume 27.07/08
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 27.07/08
Welcome Beat editorial note readers to this latest double issue, 27.07/08, of writing and art from inside juvenile hall and beyond. Before you begin to flip through this one-of-a-kind issue of writing and art from our many standout contributors, we hope you will take a moment to read our editorial note. This week we are all in for a treat, as our dear friend and colleague, Alyssa, steps up to write this latest editorial note, giving OT a well-deserved break. For those of you who know Alyssa, lucky you, she is simply an amazing colleague, facilitator, and friend. We are
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