by Mikhail Markhasev I came to America at the age of ten. I could be whoever I wanted and whatever I chose. The problem was that I didn’t know who I was, what I wanted, or where I was headed. Less than a decade after coming to America, I was in prison, serving life without parole. How did I get from a good and humble kid, “fresh off the boat,” to a violent knucklehead who turned his back on his family and harmed innocent people? My path to prison began long before the dope or the homies or dropping out
Continue ReadingAuthor: mpau@thebeatwithin.org
Killed by The Police
by Tyrone March 7, 2012 my oldest brother was killed. He was killed by the NOPD (New Orleans Police Department). Coming home from school March 7, 2012, my oldest brother and his friend was sitting outside. They were just chilling and talking. Once he saw my siblings and I get off school bus, he told us not to come outside until we finished our homework. I told him “OKAY” and we walked past him to the front door. First thing I remember doing was going to my mother’s bedroom to start my homework. As I was doing my
Continue ReadingFresh Starts
by Brianna Ramirez In February 2011 I went to jail for assaulting a man at the group home I was placed in. My mom and I had planned so much before I became incarcerated so to her it was yet another monumental disappointment. I had been taken out my home initially because of the toxic relationship I had with my parents. I had disobeyed her numerous times and she had every reason to leave me in detention. I knew that jail wasn’t the place for me. I was taught better than to get myself into situations where I was locked down
Continue ReadingVolume 24.31/32
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 24.31/32
We would like to welcome you readers to yet another fantastic double edition, 24.31/32, of the one and only The Beat Within! Once again we bring you the powerful OT, who truly plays a role in helping us put this publication together. We are grateful for his immense commitment to The Beat Within, as much as we are to you readers and writers who step up to share your stories and art. As most of you know, there is plenty of great writing to be read in this latest issue so have at it, but allow yourself to start with
Continue ReadingA Moment Alone with Steve
Angel Delara The hard wood of the bench is uncomfortable. It feels unforgiving beneath my butt as I sit there, slouched forward so that my lower back is pressed against the gray, cement wall. On either side of me, my palms are flat on the seat, while my fingers are curled over its edge, gripping it not too tightly. Affixed to the wall above me there is a metal box with a metal cord attached to a large, plastic receiver. A phone. A sad, sad reminder to me of my brother Steve. I feel like I let him down. 323 – 335…
Continue ReadingWalking Away
by Michael Mackey Walking away may at times be one essential way for having a wise life, but on the other hand it may not be, depending on what it was you walked away from. Sometimes walking away is the path to freedom. Walking away from the hopes, the fears, the pain, the past, and the stories that have a hold on us, allows us to quiet our own minds, and open our hearts in a positive manner. Never be scared, or have too much pride to walk away, trust and believe that with the courage you have within you,
Continue ReadingIf I Could Talk To My Twelve Year Old Self
by Dylan If I could talk to my 12 year old self, I would say, “hey, your journey is just beginning. I want to tell you that the shhh you went through isn’t your fault at all! I can say the tears ain’t over yet, but the hurt is. You’re lucky! All the stuff you went through, the years of violence and abuse…the ignorance when your parents said you weren’t worth it. I can say that you are not what your parents thought you would grow up to be. Riding in the back of the CPS (Child Protective Services) car
Continue ReadingVolume 24.29/30
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 24.29/30
Greetings friends! It has been some time since we had our ol’ friend and colleague, OT, write the editorial note and this week he truly doesn’t disappoint, as he steps up to share a few words. It is truly an honor to have OT back in the pages of the ed note. If you didn’t know, he supports the work day in and day out, helping with editing, typing, writing responses and intros to the various pieces, as well as doing the Spanish translations. We have known OT for many years, since he was a youth in juvenile hall, writing
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