Year: 2017

Your Life Has Value

The Beat Without

by Christian Bost What I’m about to tell you is not a story, but rather a reality of my life. The reality is that I was seventeen years old, tried as an adult, and fighting for my life, praying to God that I wouldn’t have to spend the rest of my life in prison for murder. I grew up in the streets of Los Angeles, CA. I was raised in a household with just my mom and four brothers. My dad wasn’t around because, when I was just three years old, while he was locked up in his cell, his cellie

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Success Requirements

Piece of the Week

by Sergio I believe that in order to succeed I need love from my family and support from my peers and friends. It is very important that I have my freedom, so I will abstain from being sent to correctional facilities.  I need an education and I need to work hard in order to be successful.  The most important thing I need is to be happy, for I cannot be successful if I am not happy.  In order for me to be happy, I need to be with the people I care about and I need to do the things I

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Juvenile Emancipation

The Beat Without

by Brandon Martinez Looking back over this ole life, a young buck adolescent, sitting there in front of a judge quite perplexed of my hearing being conducted for emancipation, often throughout the proceedings I was a bit baffled. As a teen, I lacked the intellectual ability to comprehend the magnitude for his decision to be rendered. Although factors were taken into account by the judge at his discretion, perhaps I should have provided some input, certainly the task was exclusively delegated to him, with such an imperative crucial decision at stake. To not object by advocating on my own volition was

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Skulls

Piece of the Week

by Saul Why am I always drawing skulls? Maybe it’s because I’m super grateful to have one, and whenever I feel like I don’t have anything I remember I have a skull and I can feel my bones dancing according to the beat of the ground. Oh it feels round, and now that time has come I can finally accept myself for what I stand for. I love music, good graces to you and everyone reading this. I love you, don’t forget that. And if you’re ever alone and forget, remember you got a skull, remember you’re alive, and remember

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Dear Youth

The Beat Without

by Ernesto Rodriguez I wanted to take the time to write to you about the importance of relationships. You see, relationships do not only mean the kind we have with an intimate special someone, but the kind of relationships that pick you back up in life when you fall. You see, in life, we have the illusion that the friendships we build with homeboys or the homegirls are everything. We believe that if we are accepted and build up our reputation in our hood, in our street, that somehow it will erase or blot out the heavy and painful things

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Growth

Piece of the Week

by JuJu It is your duty to free your mind. If your mind is not free, you’ll never win. Not mentally. Your mind will be locked in chains. The love and support of others may help but truly only you can free yourself. It takes time, practice, and learning. But if you keep a positive mindset you’ll get through it. You must understand that everything you’re going through is temporary. It’s all a test but only you decide if you pass or fail. This chapter in your life is called growth, and it’s up to you whether you reach a hard

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Nightmares

Piece of the Week

by Trapped I wonder what they’re all about? You know. Those nightmares, man. I had one last night. I was trapped in a cage. I was a wolf with blue eyes. I had blood on my fur, scars on my skin, those scars of guilt in my heart. On my heart. I wish it would all stop. I ask God to come into my heart. I say: “Please, God, will you help my mom and my heart? I can’t take it anymore.” I walk around with a smile while deep down I want to cry. I want these nightmares to

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