by Gucc, San Mateo The life of Gucc is crazy. The heart of Gucc is gone. Being me has been a hard job. Ever since I could remember my life has been hectic. My pops was a demon so he birthed a red-rum child. They kept it real with me at a young age. They told me I’ll probably get killed by my right hand man. I’ve seen how being in jail everyone leaves you for dead. Sometimes I feel like I could have gone to the (professional sports) league, but the court I went to, as they are tryin’
Continue ReadingAuthor: mpau@thebeatwithin.org
ROOTED [HIS]TORY
by SADGIRLpapi cuentame otro cuento (daddy, tell me another story)i would askthrough the absence of his presencehe’d tell me of his journey back homeback to my mom and mei remember looking at his picturesand longing for the tickling stubs of his growing beardfor his piggy back rides or how he’d carry me on his shouldersand the way his hands cupped my cheeks with adoration papi cuentame otro cuentoi would ask when he’d come back from his weeks away workinghe’d tell me of the melting snowthe cold creeks and growing rivershe’d tell me the stories of the land and agriculture how he farmed
Continue ReadingReflecting On This Life
by Z One morning in the 2nd grade, instead of walking into school how I usually did, I convinced my friend to ditch school with me and go to the arcades. But we had no money. My solution: Knock door to door, telling people we were hungry and homeless, asking specifically for quarters please. And some people actually gave us money. But one lady and her daughter, they grabbed my friend. They called the cops. The cops thought it was funny when they came and took us away. We were scared. Me more so of losing the pocketful of change
Continue ReadingAcceptance
by Q. Paige, San Quentin State Prison Something everyone wants but is bias in their own act of accepting. Webster Dictionary defines acceptance as “The act of accepting.” Webster Thesaurus defines accept as “to have favorable opinion of. Then they lead you to approve (of).” Let’s speak of the Thesaurus definition of accept because I think that’s right on the money. To accept someone there has to be favorable qualities about them to even get you to consider. As I spoke of in my autobiography, “Too Black For Some, Not Back Enough For Others.” I had a very hard time
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Volume 26.11/12
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 26.11/12
Welcome back friends to another powerful double issue, 26.11/12, of The Beat Within. We are incredibly honored to feature the talents of so many thoughtful writers and teachers – inside and out – who courageously share their stories and art with our ever-growing community. We are learning so much from you all. We can’t thank you enough for embracing The Beat Within. This week we have our beloved friend and long -time colleague OT, back to share his thoughts in the editorial section of our magazine. We always know, OT has plenty to share and offer, so without further ado….
Continue ReadingTreading Lightly
by Jesus, San Diego Honestly, I’m not sure where my life is going. I’m literally in the middle. I am mentally ready to succeed in the world and try to live life differently. But sometimes, my actions show differently. It’s crazy how hard I’m trying to do good but I always mess up in a matter of seconds. I just had a fight a couple days ago. I think I went on my longest streak of two months without a fight, so I felt I was past due to mess up and I did. But now I’m back on the
Continue ReadingHow to Teach Others to Be Kind
by H, Los Angeles I’ve always been one to lend a hand to people who are in desperate times and needs even though they’ve rarely extended their hands to me. At times, it kinda sucks because the world would be a better place if everyone looked out for everyone. But, at the end of the day, it’s not gonna be like that. The only way to make it that way is to pay it forward. Lend people your attention and affection and maybe they’ll appreciate it a lot and do it for someone else. That’s the only way to do
Continue ReadingMy First Week, My First Letter
by Jasmine, Sonoma Last time I got a letter written to me, was the first week of being in Juvie. It would’ve taken less time because she had only sent it in after me being locked up for a couple of hours. That’s how you know a person is keeping it 100 with you because she put money on the phone as well. I was kind of surprised because she was mad at me before I got locked up, but I know she was always keeping it 100, even if she was mad at me. The meaning behind the letter
Continue ReadingLooking Ahead
by Osbun Walton I share a very small space, with another adult person. The bunk bed, toilet, sink and two large selves within this small space, makes this cell that much more smaller. The Coronavirus pandemic has made this small space even less smaller in a bitter fearsome and a well sweet situation in this deadly and quite helpless darkness. What choice do I have looking ahead, praying that my prayers will be answered. In my position of my incarceration, a convict by my own negative convictions, has no degree of real safety nor protection if that deadly virus introduces
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