-Leonard, San Diego A common misconception people have had about me is that I am a bad person. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The reason I express myself in violence is because I have been hurt my whole life. Anger is all I know, and I had to be violent in order to survive my environment growing up. Times like now I wish I could get my positive attributes back.
Continue ReadingMonth: November 2025
Passion For Success
-Mr. Positivity, San Quentin State Prison Some of the misconceptions I have from a lot of the free people is that since I am in prison that I want to use people to bring in drugs, or a cell phone, or tell a sob story to get out of prison. So, most of the time I keep staff at a distance because I feel that they don’t really care. I am just another person in blue. We are all the same. Plus, I am a person of color, so that’s another thing. If you’re black or Latino in here I
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Volume 30.39/40
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 30.39/40
Welcome back to the latest issue of The Beat Within, celebrating 29 years of service, The Beat goes on! We hope you enjoy this issue and all the amazing writing from all The Beat Within participants as they explore the topics of being heard, the draw of the streets, shame and our favorite songs. Michael “Einstein” Kroll is back with the editorial note today sharing a wonderful story and example about speaking up for yourself in a productive and respectful way. Michael explores the topic My Voice, Your Voice in his journey to the Peace Corps. You have all heard
Continue ReadingMy Attraction To The Streets
-Malik, Marin My attraction to the streets is knowing that you always have a place to fall back on no matter what. A big part of it is the connection you build outside, and the brotherhoods that are formed. But still, people or no people, the block is always there. Day or night, hot or cold, money in your pocket or broke, it will always be there. Even when your family doesn’t want you home, no friends are picking up your calls, and it’s two-thirty in the morning. I was still always able to go back home, to the streets.
Continue ReadingTo The Beat Within
-Tommy, Santa Rosa, CA Dear Beat Within, I hope that this finds you in good health as well as in high spirits. I’m not sure if you recall, I wrote to you around 2019 or so to give you a reminder that should click… The first book anybody gave me was from you, all the way back in 1996! And the book was “Of Mice and Men…” I’m sorry that I never wrote back! I don’t have an excuse for doing so, and the true Taurus I am, I’m not gone bull shhh you with one. I’m now forty-three and
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Volume 30.37/38
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 30.37/38
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
Continue ReadingAppreciation
-Uz, San Francisco My time here is almost up, finally. I met a lot of good people here. Three years fly so fast and not gonna lie, it definitely wasn’t too hard. I’m proud to say that I’m almost at the end of this journey, only God knows what I went through all this time. My time with The Beat has been one hell of a ride and I appreciate y’all for being there for me and rocking with me through good and bad. I’ve received a lot of love from y’all and my words can’t explain how I appreciate
Continue ReadingWhen I First Met David
-Jesse, San Quentin, CA I first met Dave in 2018, when the world was a different place. Dave had a perpetual smile and an attitude of gratitude. He reminded me of what a modern-day beatnik, or second generation hippie from the city, would look like. He shook my hand firmly, excitement in his eyes, his first question was of course, “How did you hear about The Beat?” I had just recently been transferred to San Quentin, from Valley State Prison, where I was taking part in a writing class. Upon arrival in West Block, I used the telephone and noticed
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