-AP, San Diego I was about fifteen years old going into high school during COVID-19, so everything was basically online. My mom is a travelling nurse, so she was never in town. I had my friends over. They were all older than me. So, one day a female brought her friend, and he asked me if I wanted to try cocaine. I told him no. He kept asking me and it was getting annoying, so I was just going to try it. But, once I saw him jump off my second story balcony, that pushed me harder and made me
Continue ReadingAuthor: mpau@thebeatwithin.org
My Goals and Aspirations
-Lucas, Foothills Correctional Institution in Phoenix, MD Dear Beat Within Team, I hope this finds you doing well and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be introduced to you. My name is Lucas, and I am a writer, an artist, a friend, mentor, and a supportive father to my seventeen-year-old son Logan. He is my world. I also have one younger brother Adam, who is a personal trainer in Asheville, NC. I have two loving and recently retired parents, Donna and Marty. We are all still very close to one another. Prior to my incarceration, I became severely dependent
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Volume 30.19/20
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 30.19/20
Welcome Beat writers and readers from across the country and around the world! We’re so glad to have you with us, and to have the honor of publishing the testimonies, opinions, and stories of our incarcerated community for the past twenty-eight years. Our recent topic on the Los Angeles County decision to bring back the death penalty struck a particular chord with our young writers and with this issue’s editorial contributor, Michael Kroll. Michael brings decades of experience to the pages of The Beat, and we’re grateful to showcase his history and critical eye on this important topic. The questions
Continue ReadingI Belong to Wide Open Roads
-JRS, Sonoma I belong with my family and friends.I belong with a wrench in my dirty, oil and grease-covered hands.I belong with my head under the hood of a car.I belong to a two-car garageWith the smells of fuel, oil, and burnt rubber.I am an automotive engineer, and I belong with you.I work hard for the satisfaction of my clients and myself.I do good work when I’m with good people.I don’t belong to any single person.I belong with the world.I don’t belong in these walls, in these cells.I belong to wide open roadsWith the wind through my hair and joy
Continue ReadingWords of Inspiration and Motivation
Frankie, Kern Valley State Prison in Delano, CA Dear Beat Within community, It feels great to get back into the program of inspirational conversations. How long will this conversation be? Who knows! Sit back and if you saved up a snack from lunch, this will be the perfect time snack it (yes, I know, sad face, no coffee in juvie). The long wasted nights and wasted days comes to mind! This contradicts my real feelings. I’m assuming we are all feeling the same? Singing in our minds, wasted days and wasted nights! All dressed up on the colors of our
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Volume 30.17/18
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 30.17/18
Greetings to our readers, writers, and broader community of The Beat Within! We’re bringing you another groundbreaking edition of writing by and for incarcerated youth, and we can’t emphasize enough how grateful we are to have you with us. It’s no easy task to put this publication to print every other week, but with the support of our incredible community, we’ve been able to make it happen for three consecutive decades. We’re bringing Michael Kroll to the pages of our editorial section, who some of you know as “Einstein” and many more of you know as a dedicated workshop facilitator
Continue ReadingWhat My Daughter and I Deserve
-DB, Albuquerque This year has started off good, then changed very quickly. The person I came into the new year with me is no longer in my life. Sadly, life goes on. Maybe things just weren’t meant to be. I am walking to new beginnings though! This boy that I am talking to now is very different. Everyone I have told about him has approved. That’s a big difference! We have been getting to know each other a lot! We talked on the phone, and we came to a lot of agreements to where we understand that if we don’t
Continue ReadingWords and Echoes
-Marcus, Santa Cruz In the midst of writing his story, his pencil snapped. Growing in frustration, this particular storyteller, sharpened the halves and began to write again. However, this action of a breaking pencil redirected his train of thought. Here is the story he wrote (from the pencil’s view): I feel my wisdom may travel to a receptive writer, one who is in touch with the world. For I was once a majestic thing, towering above the other trees to become a splintered thing, fractured, yet my wisdom remains whole. This lead — which has replaced my leaves — may
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