by Floyd D. Collins, San Quentin State Prison, CA Life is a journey and on this road there are many streets, roads, detours and obstacles. For me coming to prison I didn’t have a GPS to help me navigate through the unknown. My first stop after going through the process of San Francisco County Jail “7th floor” was San Quentin reception center “Badger Section” 5th tier. Knowing nothing about prison I had to become a student. I looked and learned and spoke when spoked to. This taught me how to listen and talk less. Starting my 25 to life sentence
Continue ReadingAuthor: mpau@thebeatwithin.org
Volume 26.01/02
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 26.01/02
Happy New Year friends! It is an honor to bring you our first issue of 2021! Did you know come this September, The Beat Within will be 25 years old!? Yes, a quarter of century of writing and art from the inside and beyond shared in the pages of The Beat Within, with our amazing community of family, friends, brothers, sisters, allies, community partners, supporters, colleagues, teachers, students, artists, writers, lawyers, judges, probation officers, correctional officers, counselors, facilitators, typists, editors and complete strangers that we hope one day to meet. Thank you all for believing in our work and if
Continue ReadingA Change Is Gonna Come
by Eddie Grande, Correctional Training Facility, Soledad, CA Power, how would like to be able to choose your own president? How would you like to be able to choose your own Bills and Laws? Decide who you want seated in office? Who your Governor is, who your Attorney General is? Your Mayor? Police Chief? Head City Prosecutor? How would you like to have a say in what taxes you pay and on what, to have the right to be able to do that is power and a power that is earned by privilege and earned by remaining a productive and
Continue ReadingHow I See The World
by Dylan, Sonoma What do you see? Hmm, what do I see? Well, the world as it is today. It’s a world full of hate, anger, racism, and politics. Why is the world full of anger? Well, because there’s too many stuck up people that are all about themselves. Why is this world full of hate? Because people are insecure about themselves, so they decide to hate on other people. But last but not least, WHY? WHY DOES THE WORLD HAVE RACISM? Well, for a number of reasons. People think that where they were born is where you should stay.
Continue ReadingSpeak Up
by Young A, Albuquerque, New Mexico “You are powerful and your voice matters. You’re going to walk into many rooms in your life and career where you may be the only one who looks like you or who has had the experiences you’ve had. But you remember that when you are in those rooms, you are not alone. We are all in that room with you applauding you on. Cheering your voice. And just so proud of you. So you use that voice and be strong.” – Kamala Harris It is important to have a voice and speak up because
Continue ReadingThe Growing Pains Of A Half-God
by AF, Sacramento Humans. A bipedal primate mammal also known as Homo Sapiens. They are born into this world only to age and die later. While they are walking the earth, they can choose to repopulate and have kids. These kids will grow up and then be the next to wither and die. It’s a non-stop cycle of life. Knowledge has been passed down from generation to the next generation. Starting with who knows what or who, we have evolved. “We” went from Ancient Egypt to modern technology in the blink of an eye. We have created weapons that contain
Continue ReadingHappy New Year!
Our long time colleagues, the JJIE (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange) are featuring The Beat Within essay, “No Longer The Monster But I Feel Like A Fraud,” from our colleague and friend, Josue. This beautifully written, and inspirational piece is a must-read for all, especially our youth, as Josue shares his story as a youngster growing up in San Francisco to who he is today. It is certainly an honor to be working with Josue and to provide this talented teacher and writer a platform to not only share his work in the pages of The Beat Within, but today, thanks
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Volume 25.49/50
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 25.49/50
Welcome Welcome to our year-end double issue, 25.49/50, of The Beat Within. It is such an honor to have completed 50 issues of The Beat Within during such a challenging time in all of our lives. We are incredibly thankful to all of you contributors who have stepped up to create and share with our amazing community this past year. We are also eternally grateful to all of our partners, colleagues, and supporters because without you all there is no program. Thank you ALL for believing in the work, as we prepare to enter our 25th year of service! Can
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