Category: The Beat Without

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

My name is Jensen Ramos and I am currently serving a life sentence for committing a crime as a juvenile. I committed my crime at the age of 17. I was tried, convicted and sentenced to 50 years to life. I have currently been in prison for 12 years now, and till this day I hate it. I still remember the day it happened. On January of 2002 I went to a party with my friends trying to have a good time. One of my friends had an exchange of words with someone and they started fighting. After they fought

by Eddie Herena I knew I’d be alone the moment I stepped on the bus headed for state prison.  I ran with a gang on the street and eventually wound up in County (jail) for a murder I committed.  The thought of spending the rest of my life in prison was overwhelming.  I was twenty-one.  Knowing myself and the loyalty that lies within my being, I was forced to make one of the toughest choices in my young life: to either immerse myself deeper into the gang lifestyle, or walk away.  It wasn’t easy, but I knew that if I chose

by Miguel Quezada Being willing to go alone requires being fearless in the face of the unknown and being courageous in the adversity of the world saying, “you will fail”. My lack of con dence was because I had learned one way of life. That was to be down with my homies and neighborhood. The beliefs I adopted were those things we learn in the neighborhood: loyalty, trust, honor, respect; these values were real and I would have defended them with my life. This belief system was and is powerful and at that time I lacked the courage to break away

by Melvin Jones Made up my mind No matter how much I was abused I was done crying Didn’t matter if it was an extension cord, a belt, a coat hanger, a Hot Wheels race track a fist in the mouth, a kick in my stomach, a slap I wasn’t gonna shed a single tear I was done crying I was done denying That it wasn’t my fault As the blows rained down on me I simply detached… racing For the dark crevices of my mind There I sang and danced to songs That spoke of God rescuing me How this

by Jesus Trujillo This letter is written to anyone who needs or wants a change in life. I hope that my experience can keep you from walking the same path as me. I’m twenty years old serving a fty-years to life sentence, which means I won’t be eligible for parole until I serve fty-years, and even then my parole isn’t promised. I was seventeen years old when I got arrested, and to be honest each year that passes I regret my mistakes more and more. It sucks to spend any birthday in prison but that’s my reality. In a couple