Welcome back to our Beat Within readers, writers, colleagues, and teachers. For this issue, we’re bringing you reflections from Camillia and Daisy, two of our interns at Urban High School in San Francisco, CA. It’s been such a pleasure to continue fostering this partnership, where the students of Urban have made a huge impact on The Beat over the course of their spring semester, transcribing the wide range of writing that becomes published in our pages.
Thank you, Camillia and Daisy, for your time, your dedication, and for sharing our mission to uplift the voices of incarcerated youth and their community.
The Power of Narrative
Working with The Beat Within has been an eye-opening experience that has reshaped my understanding of the justice system and incarcerated individuals. As I reflect on my time spent with The Beat, I am compelled to share the exciting, challenging, and breakthrough moments that have profoundly impacted my perspective. This reflection aims to honor the voices working behind the scenes of The Beat Within and shed light on the transformative power of their narratives.
Before embarking on my internship, my perception of the justice system and incarcerated individuals was largely shaped by media portrayals and societal stereotypes. However, as I immersed myself in the writings of The Beat Within, my preconceived notions began to crumble. The raw, honest, and thought-provoking accounts penned by the incarcerated writers shattered my preconceptions, unveiling the depth and complexity of their experiences.
Certain writers and excerpts really stuck out to me. The narratives of resilience and redemption moved me to the core. Through my work with The Beat Within, I gained invaluable insights into the reality of incarceration and its profound effect on the human experience. The narratives I transcribed revealed the pain and vulnerability that often goes unnoticed amidst the stigmatization of the incarcerated population.
As I delved into these stories, I recognized parts of myself in the shared struggles and aspirations of the writers. Their introspective accounts made me question the concept of “us versus them” and highlighted the common humanity we all share. Working with The Beat Within presented its share of challenges. Transcribing deeply personal stories that encompassed pain, trauma, and regret required sensitivity and emotional resilience.
The aspect I enjoyed most was witnessing the power of storytelling as a tool for healing and self-expression. The Beat Within provided a platform for individuals to transcend the limitations of their circumstances and share their stories with the world. Witnessing the transformative impact of their narratives, both on the writers themselves and the wider readership, was a truly humbling experience.
My work with The Beat Within has undoubtedly informed and reshaped my ideas and opinions about incarcerated individuals and the justice system. I now understand that incarceration does not define a person’s worth or potential for growth. It has underscored the urgent need for restorative justice practices that prioritize rehabilitation, reintegration, and support for individuals within the system. Furthermore, my experience has highlighted the importance of providing platforms for marginalized voices to be heard.
The Beat Within has shown me the power of narrative in challenging societal narratives. It has deepened my commitment to advocating for criminal justice reforms that prioritize rehabilitation, reduce recidivism, and promote equitable opportunities for all. Overall, my internship with The Beat Within has been a transformative journey, reshaping my understanding of the justice system and incarcerated individuals. The narratives I encountered have challenged my preconceived notions.
-Camillia, Urban High School, San Francisco, CA
I Saw Myself in Their Writing
Reading these pieces and getting to transcribe them was a really incredible experience, and getting to see this work published is really satisfying. I feel like I learned a lot about the lives of these kids and what they want their lives to look like in the future. There are so many artists and reflective thinkers who aren’t getting to be heard, and I’m happy to know that The Beat is amplifying them.
Before working with The Beat, I didn’t know much about the prison system or the kids my age who resided within it. I knew that if I talked to them, I would feel very different from them, and I wouldn’t be sure how to connect with them the way I do with my private school peers.
Honestly, I would say there was fear. Fear of what I didn’t fully understand, because I have grown up in such a different environment. Immediately, I was moved by the pieces I read. I read a piece about a young man who really looked up to his brother, who had also been incarcerated. He wanted to grow so that he could impress his brother and his family, and he wanted his brother to grow too. There were so many memories embedded in those pages. Memories of siblings, friends, inanimate objects that held special meaning to them. I was honestly moved by almost every single piece I read. I wondered if these kids had someone who just wanted to listen to their stories, or if this felt like their only time to express themselves. I could sense a lot of joy in the writing process, of getting these stories on paper and these feelings out into the world, regardless of how one chooses to write them.
I saw myself in their writing multiple times, because often there were universal themes and qualities about the pieces. A girl wrote about a Drew Barrymore quote that stood out to her about mistakes becoming life lessons, and that was incredibly helpful for me to hear at the time I read it. Though our stories are different, I can relate to having a lot of regrets and beating myself up about them instead of seeing them as lessons. Hearing how her perspective changed after hearing the quote helped my perspective change a bit over time.
There were lots of pieces centered around shame and regret and how one can grow from those emotions. I have a lot of questions to ask myself about how I want to look at the past, when it contains a lot of painful memories. It’s something everyone struggles with, accountability and forgiveness directed at oneself. I’m really happy the words and life lessons of these kids are being put out there.
Getting to read their work was my favorite part of the process, and it’s something I will never forget about. I felt a connection despite never having met them, and getting to respond was really interesting and difficult. I wanted to say the right thing, and I wanted to be honest and genuine. I didn’t want to seem patronizing either. I hopefully achieved that to the best of my abilities. I am incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity.
-Daisy, Urban High School, San Francisco, CA
Thank you again to Camillia and Daisy for sharing your deep reflections and journeys with us. We can’t wait to see what you both accomplish as you carry this experience with you into your futures. We’re proud to share your voices and your perspectives in our publication.
We hope that this latest issue of The Beat Within brings all of our readers the wisdom and confidence to be our best selves, and to persevere through the hardships we endure. As always, we are so appreciative of each and every one of our contributors, and we celebrate your testimony. Until next time, The Beat goes on!