Category: The Beat Without

by Pao Yang Life in prison is very lonely, stressful, and dark like the black holes in space, which is capable of swallowing all of your dreams and goals. I am able to say that because at the age of sixteen, and through my sel sh actions, I was sentenced to life in prison. I traded away all of my teenage years of going to high school, a chance at driving a car; achieving my goals and career for being in prison, serving a sentence of 25 to LIFE for rst degree murder. I had to become a man in

by Miguel Quezada When I knew there was a chance that I could reach out to you young men and women in the Modesto Juvenile Hall, I was ready for the opportunity. You see, back in 1998 and ’99 from age sixteen to seventeen, I was in the max unit, and in 1999 I spent some time in the boy’s unit too. Back then I weighed about one hundred and fty pounds. But I felt a lot bigger because I carried within me a lot of resentment, loneliness, fear, and rejection. All of this spilled out into the world and

by A. Raheem Ballard Since the beginning of time, language has allowed people of all ethnicities to communicate, to be heard, and to be felt. Through the exchange of words, language has also allowed people to persuade others, and to be persuaded. For example, the ery speeches of Adolf Hitler convinced a nation of people that blonde hair and blue eyes was a sign of ethnic superiority. Then, there was the congregation of Jim Jones, which was tragically misled from America to Africa, only to commit mass suicide. These horri c acts were not only carried out with bad intentions,

by Michael Mackey Yes, I’ve been in many group homes and foster homes. I’m surprised I’m not the poster child for the foster system. I was rst placed in the foster system when I was seven years old. My twin sister, Michelle, and two younger brothers, Johnnie and John Earl were also with me. My uncles and aunties made the decision to place us in the foster system. I’m not sure if our granny was a part of that, but I think she knew. The only person who asked if we wanted or needed anything was the case worker who was

by Son Nguyen Our perceptions tend to change as we get older. When I rst got locked up in county jail, everyone pretty much knew I was going to be behind bars for a while because of the crime I committed. Those who had more experience with being in the system advised me to “Do the time, don’t let the time do you.” I took this to mean Man Up and not let the system break me no matter what happens. So when I came to prison with a life sentence I went along with what I was taught. Follow

by Melvin Jones With a correct understanding you will know that what you “feel” and “think” is your greatest opposition is truly… your greatest opportunity. The unpredictable highs and lows of life at times can feel as if you’re riding a roller coaster. Yet, never fear, because at your darkest hour is that magical/mystical moment when everything is primed to see the impossible occur, the miracle happen, and all your perceived doom and gloom be turned completely around. The choice will always remain within us. So, the question is, “What will you decide?” Every time I read from the young

by Eddie “Edito” DeWeaver There have been many times in my life where I felt that I could not go on. It seemed, with my short-sightedness, that there were outside forces in my life that were overwhelmingly greater than me. There were times in my youth that I felt like nobody cared about me and I would isolate myself by hiding away in a closet to cry. For some reason, I believed that life should be fair, and as a result of feeling powerless, I would not want to go on in this world. In these closet appointments, I feared

by Emile DeWeaver I’ve heard that students do not drop out of school, they’re “pushed out”. I don’t like that phrase, “pushed out”, because it’s an oversimpli cation of a very complicated process. Before today, I would’ve said that no one pushed me out of school; I ran as hard as I could to get away from getting up every morning at 5:00 a.m. to drag myself to a classroom to listen to the enemy talk about things that didn’t matter to me. Then, I thought about a book I read by Andy Andrews called The Butter y Effect. It’s

by Mathew Edwards Welcome ladies, gentlemen, faculty members, and fellow graduates. I’m honored to be here amongst so many believers who became graduate achievers… Have you ever reminisced on you journey through the hands of time? To think who knew I would make it this far? Who knew I would survive the struggle and still achieve? It’s amazing what you can do if you believe… Who knew this graduation would feature me, A celebration for all of us to see. Even in the midst of negativity and despair, We stare, at men worthy of being praised, Chins raised, eyes blaze,

by Michael Mackey Detention has affected my relationship with my family by me not being there!  Watching them grow up, my son is wondering where has his father gone and is acting out because I’m not around to teach him right from wrong.  It’s hard on his mother, Lakisha, raising a child by herself with little support from family and me, the father of her son, Daziri. I didn’t speak to my son or his mother for about seven and a half years because frustration and detention affected her, and I made her angry for many reasons. She tried to forget about