Category: The Beat Without

by Dortell Williams Have you ever tried to run against the wind? It isn’t easy. Most of the time, it’s easier to just go with it and sail. Boats do it all the time, so do kites, flags and balloons. On the other hand, criminal behavior (CB) is like running against the wind. They officially call CB “anti-social” behavior, because it goes against the norms of larger society.  CB is like going against the wind. It is unnatural. Imagine if everyone was out there fighting, stabbing and shooting each other. Society would not last. We would all do one another in and humanity would disappear.

by Fernando Murillo My name is Fernando Murillo. I first wrote to The Beat in Alameda County Juvenile Hall as a sixteen-year-old boy. I was an impulsive, zealous young man full of so much self-righteousness. I was upset Michael Kroll and The Beat workshop people showed up during our rec time for a writer’s work shop.  I felt exploited. I felt like some people outside wanted to come to the zoo and see the animals at a safe distance. Something I felt they wouldn’t do in the community. I was so ignorantly misinformed and irrational. I had no idea that this

by Edgardo Ruiz I remembered sitting inside a holding cell waiting for sentencing, asking myself how did I allow myself to reach this low? When did I become so callous that I didn’t even care about my own life, let alone the life and feelings of others? How did I become so self-centered, selfish, egotistical and repulsive?  Looking back to my childhood, I realized how innocent and carefree life was. You see, my upbringing was a little different. I was born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico where the ocean breeze was ever so lightly, the sunshine bright as ever and

by Michael Webb Prison is the most unforgiving place in the world. In this environment, it’s all about surviving and protecting yourself from other prisoners who prey on the weaker prisoners. Some prisoners believe if they can’t get some of your store or personal packages, then you don’t matter and some would even try to pressure you out of your stuff. So, you have to stand up for yourself and not become a victim. Sometimes standing up for yourself can get you placed in solitary confinement. For me, I consider going to solitary confinement a badge of honor. Being in

by Michael Arreygue Cesar Chavez. The co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union, once said that “students must have initiative, they should not be mere imitators. They must learn to think and act for themselves and be free.” Upon reading this quote and reflecting on my life, how much society has changed, not only do students, but we as people, must always take initiative. Students taking initiative can be seen today, as it has been seen in history. One must always take initiative not only to create change, but to build up one’s character, self-esteem, and motivate all those similarly

by Johnny C. Perez On November 20th, 1991, I was a gang member. At around 9:33pm that night I was riding a moped. I didn’t give much thought to how dangerous it was for me to be out at that time of night. The past two years, two gang associates had been murdered, and many more shot. I wasn’t thinking about that. I was a sixteen years old having fun. In the blink of an eye, there was a blazer in front of me with a person half way out the passenger window shooting at me. I was hit in

by Genaro Patterson Hello Future, yes you, every child who resides in the juvenile detention center, you are the future and the world is depending on you to help make it a better place than what it was when you first came. You might not realize it, but your existence could have a drastic change on how we live here on earth. You could be the next miracle doctor, the next senator, the president, the next Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg or James Patterson, the best fiction writer in the business. Now is the time to make your change, to take

by John Vasquez Sometimes the stress seems unbearable. My younger brother is homeless, and I haven’t seen him in twenty-two years. My mother, who turns sixty this year, is in poor physical health and she must drive three and a half hours just to visit me. Here I am in prison and I can’t do anything about it. I feel powerless to help the people I love, and it stresses me the hell out. I got locked up at sixteen years old and my family has been waiting twenty-five years for me to come home. I’m doing life in prison

by Henry Inocencio I am thirty-eight years old. I have been incarcerated almost fifteen years now. I have a sentence of LWOP (life without parole) plus twenty- five to life for a first-degree murder with drive-by enhancement. I was raised in the Bay Area on the Oakland side of the water. My family was big. Dad’s side was Mexican, mom’s side was white. In the 1980’s life for a kid was fresh and exciting. There was music and break-dancing in the street. All the older people were fun and cool and I gravitated towards those qualities. Then, as if it

by Anson Mooney Who am I? I am a man, a grandson, a son, a brother, a father who is blessed with many talents and gifts. I am an artist and designer. A leader whose direction is only just begun. I am a traveler of both time and space. I am a dreamer with a lack of sleep. I am both the end of my past and the beginning of my future. I am inspiration. I am the pupil of all of life’s lessons. 2. Why am I here? I am here for every opportunity to learn how to love,