Welcome back to another double dose edition of the one and only Beat Within. This week we are celebrating the Great David Inocencio’s Birthday, which just happens to be the founder of this program and magazine.
Because of the great David, we are all here in this safe space where we’re all allowed to tell our stories, share our poems, talk about our struggles, and sometimes even laugh with funny jokes and tales.
Every time this magazine is picked up and read by someone, you are reading nothing but the authentic truth of the lives of many people like the youth, OG’s, teachers, students, workers, people in general and those that are either in the system, work for the system or trapped in the system.
You don’t have to see too far outside your community to see the injustices that are going inside of your neighborhood, city, state, country and all around the world. Where there are restrictions on what people can say and express. There is no freedom of expression, only for those in power. The Beat Within is a place with no restrictions on what you can say. However, there is one rule. You have to be respectful of yourself and others.
This is what has made The Beat Within golden since its initial start right after the death of Tupac Shakur. David Inocencio was working inside San Francisco County Juvenile Hall and he saw the impact that Tupac’s death had on the youth, so it was a must for him to create space where youth could express their grief, their thoughts and insight.
I don’t want to continue on the summary of how The Beat started because I’m sure many of you know the story already. I remember I was in sixth grade when Tupac died, and I was sad. Shhh, even my non-english speaking mom was sad at the time, as well. She said she loved him as an actor.
Tupac was the voice of not only his generation, but for many generations to come. Each album he dropped after he passed away, Makaveli, R U Still Down (a Double Disc Release), Until The End of Time, I mean I keep going included songs that till this day are timeless. I remember being in High School in the early 2000’s and everybody was still bumping All Eyes On Me, which was released in 1996!
The fact the at the same time Tupac’s music was expanding and becoming even more popular than ever, so was The Beat Within Program as it was introduced all over to Bay Area Facilities that included 150- Crew (Alameda County), Santa Clara County, and The Juvenile Hall I was housed in at San Mateo County. I say that to show you, just how popular this program was and still is.
It’s a must that we give the voiceless a voice. It’s a must that we must give those that society think that are not worthy of a second chance, the opportunity to tell their story and not let no one else tell it for them.
This program gave me the confidence I needed to believe in myself; that I can succeed at anything that I put my mind to. When I didn’t believe in myself, I read countless stories from The Beat from youth that at times were going through challenges totally different than mine, but I was able to see their determination to persevere. The Beat Within has showed me that challenges and adversity are a part of life and we must embrace them whole heartedly.
Don’t ever ask God why you’re in the position that you’re in. Remember, you put yourself there with the decisions that you were making. And if you put yourself there, it’s your task, duty and responsibility to get yourself out. Giving up is not an option and I’m sure that we’ve all have experience moments in life where we thought that was our only option.
But we lacked critical thinking, which is something The Beat teaches you about yourself, when you write each week things about yourself that YOU didn’t even know. You mature and grow. You start seeing life from a different angle because you read about everyone else’s points of views.
See, the beauty about writing is the freedom. It’s just you and the paper, mano a mano, taco a taco. It’s a show down. (The wild west whistle is blowing in the background). I never knew how much of a tool the pen and paper was.
My whole life I was living by the gun and dying by gun until The Beat Within reinforced the fact the pen is mightier than the sword. By reading other people’s stories in The Beat, it taught me to be more empathetic with others and the situations they go through in their lives.
The truth is, we all are going through something in life and when we go through these hard times and turmoil, it’s easy to feel like you’re the only one. Steps in The Beat, with countless of stories from others going through some kind of adversity, sometimes different, sometimes the same, but some sort of struggle.
The community becomes a safe haven, a protection shield, and a magic potion that boosts your confidence and motivation to succeed. We are not alone. We are never alone. Thanks to David and The Beat.
We will always do our best to make sure we all stay connected to a community where we learn from each other, lean on each other, and persevere with each other. I am truly blessed to have had David in my life, since I was seventeen years old. I’m forty now, and he’s still lives with me in my heart.
Many of you all have also been blessed just by being around David, even if it was just a short while. There was something about his soul that was just so relentless in helping others let their voices be heard, and encouraging them to achieve their goals and dreams.
His daughter is lucky to have been blessed with him as a Father. Lisa is blessed to have been able to have called him her husband. I was blessed to just call him my friend, and mentor. I love you my brotha. I’ve always told you and I’ll keep on saying it. I love you so much that my son is named after you, Jayden David Turcios.
I miss you, but your soul lives through The Beat, in every piece of writing, in every line, in every word and in every act and deed of love, unselfishness, kindness and inspiration. The Beat goes on! Long live David Inocencio! One love to everyone! OT is signing out with all the love and respect to each and everyone of you!