by Anthony, San Mateo This is going to be about my five to six years in elementary school. First grade was in San Bruno Allen Elementary, the school behind the San Bruno library on El Camino Real. It was the good life in first grade, having to not worry about anything in life but passing my easy lil’ kid packet and class with one teacher. I had hella friends and it was a good life. I don’t even know how to say it. It was definitely a trouble and stress-free life, just living, when thinking is not what you do.
Continue ReadingAuthor: mpau@thebeatwithin.org
The Pain
by Lil O, James Ranch, Santa Clara During my life I’ve been through some things, seen a lot, done a lot, been through a lot. I remember those days when I was a little kid being a little travieso and shhh. Growing up was hard, my mom didn’t want me to be like my family, she wants me to be a good kid doing good. I was a kid that struggled a lot, got angry all the time. My mom didn’t like that. She used to hit me. She’ll call my uncles and they’ll do the same thing they wanted
Continue ReadingI’ve Seen A Lot Growing Up
by JA, Sacramento I have seen a lot. Some I can’t talk about, growing up in the area I grew up in. You gotta stick and weave. If you know then you know. Some make it out, some don’t. Some get killed trying to make it out, some like bein’ even sixteen. I have done seen so much when I was five. I’m not like the others and for sure not like others my age nor is my mind or person. A lot of people think I’m older than my age. I had to grow up fast. Do I like
Continue ReadingDear Beat Within Community
by Torrey Thomas, San Quentin State Prison, CA I am doing great and as always thank you for giving all incarcerated people a chance to have our voices heard on such an amazing platform. As I write this letter on April 5th, I am currently in “the Hole”. I’m waiting on my transfer that should happen in a couple more days. As I am aware all inmates in San Quentin who are age 25 and under will leave and go to a prison called Valley State. This is because of a program called Youth Offender Program (YOP). So far I’m
Continue ReadingForgiveness
by Q. Paige, San Quentin State Prison, CA Something that is equally hard to receive as well as give. Some might even think they’re not even deserving of it. Webster Dictionary defines “Forgiveness” as to give up resentment, pardon. Webster Thesaurus defines it as, release from the guilt or penalty of an offense. With both of these definitions do you feel you can give or receive forgiveness? Me personally I can give it all day, but I’m one of those who feels they’re not deserving of it. I’ve made some horrible mistakes in my life, some to where some might
Continue ReadingReal Life
by Efren Bullard, Centinela State Prison in Imperial, CA My name is Efren Bullard and I use to write to you guys about 20 years ago. I know that the youngsters back then are no longer incarcerated in your system, but I found your address and wanted to share my life story again with the youth of today because it’s important for them to hear the truth about the path their taking… ”I was arrested November 6th, 1993 at the age of 18 for two first degree count of PC. 187, plus 23 counts of Robbery. I was looking at
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Volume 26.13/14
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 26.13/14
Another week another Beat, welcome to another solid double issue of the one and only The Beat Within. We are thrilled to present the latest writings from our weekly groups to those of you who loyally reach out to us independently. Thank you all. Given the tight deadline we have been on, we are incredibly grateful to bring back one of our most loyal colleagues and friend, OT. This week OT is back to share his thoughts in this latest editorial note. We are always moved and inspired by our friend and colleague, who despite his location, plays a huge
Continue ReadingFeeling Guilty
ghost, San Mateo I’ve never really felt guilty about anything except this one evening. I was fresh out from school around 3 o’clock, my friends only had six periods, so they were already out and waiting for me at the yard. My boy from school, J and my other friend from another school approached me. J told me he just copped a few bars (Xanax) to flip. So, I was like damn let me cop some and he said it was good, so I bought four and popped them right there. So, we went to this park right there, like
Continue ReadingLooking Ahead
B, Saramento Looking ahead, I see me in the future. My path not certain yet. I’m either on the block or dead. I don’t know why, that’s the feeling I get often, you feel me. So I just thug it throughout the day. It do be lookin’ promising, but if that’s what the future holds, I gotta be prepared. Because life is tricky. And death gon’ be easy, but life is very hard. You just gotta, or should, I say me, I gotta find a goal and set my focus on that. I’m always to worry about that and looking
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