by Ghost, San Mateo I’m going to talk about taking my first college classes. The first time I took college classes was here in the YSC (Youth Services Center aka Juvenile Hall). I was working in a normal class in school when I found out about it. I was just chilling in class when this teacher came in. He started talking about how we would have sessions in his class that we could take online through Zoom. We were told that we were going to get college credits and normal credits in high school as well. I don’t know why
Continue ReadingComing to America
by Lalo, San Francisco I was born on 5/19/2004 in Brazil. Growing up was full of tough times for me. I only met my dad one time at the age of 10, in court, when he signed the papers giving my mom full custody of me. I also grew up without my mother from the age of 5 to 12 when she left Brazil to come to the United States for a better life. She left without giving me any explanation about why she was leaving. I still remember how I screamed and begged her not to leave me, and
Continue ReadingFilthy Living Conditions
by Frederick Mason, USP Tucson in Tucson, AZ Today, November 24th, I woke up in my cell, in B2 unit USP Tucson, at about 7am as I heard the breakfast trays coming. I got up, reminded that just yesterday, November 23rd, that 18 inmates in B2 tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and had to be moved to B1 along with their property, except their mattresses. In exchange B1 sent 30 inmates who had not tested positive into B2, since the remaining 75 of us had yet to test positive. Dorms hold up to 128 inmates. Once all the switches
Continue ReadingNo More Hurt To Give
by Keith Erickson, Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, CA There was this boy. He had been harmed as just a child by the very ones that were supposed to love and protect him. They had failed him in more ways than you can imagine. He was, like many of the men that now fill these prison walls of despair and disdain, broken before he ever stood a chance. If you knew his past, their past, you would see the world around you with deeper compassion than you ever thought possible. Their stories, our stories are real. The tattooed faces,
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Volume 26.21/22
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 26.21/22
Greetings Beat lovers! Another week, another Beat for you supportive readers and friends of our amazing publication. This week’s issue is no different, filled with lots of writings from our wonderful workshops, to the submissions that come in unsolicited. We are grateful to you all for believing in this journey and playing such an important role in our success. The last couple issues we have had the honor to showcase the writings from our friend, OT, in Managua, Nicaragua. This issue we continue with our dear friend and colleague who has played a major role in The Beat Within for
Continue ReadingThe Visit
by BrokenHeartedYouth, Santa Clara I had a co-visit with my mom the other day and we had a powerful conversation. It wasn’t your typical conversation that you’d have with your mother. Forgive me, but it’s still hard to talk about. I told her how tired I was, and she asked me, “Why mijo, did you sleep late?” It took me a while to answer her question. How can I tell the woman that brought me into this world and gave me love and life that I no longer wanted it? I told her how I was feeling, and she broke
Continue ReadingMy Struggle
by JL, Santa Clara My struggle is a beautiful one, many try to replicate it, but can’t do it right! I go and learn from all my mistakes on a daily basis. Some lessons are harder than others, but I’m proud of who I am becoming. I’ve been through it all and I can say that my loyalty still hasn’t wavered. I can die today and be known as a real standup dude! I can’t let the poor decisions my peers made affect me. I can’t blame them for acting differently because we aren’t cut the same. I’ll continue to
Continue ReadingStreet Life Ain’t Worth It
by RJ, Sacramento If I had to teach something, I would try to teach youth that gang banging, and trying to sit on the block or trying to hang out with gang members is not the way to go. Trying to fit in with others that you do not belong with can cost you your life. What I mean by that is one little situation at the wrong place and wrong time can have you dead or doing life in jail. I know some people have that type of family that makes you grow up in that – not typically
Continue ReadingHow I Became a Domestic Enemy
by Dortell Williams, California State Prison, Los Angeles County in Lancaster, CA I supposed that it is rare for a man cured of toxic masculinity to admit that he was the domestic enemy of the house. Especially when domestic violence is all too common in today’s society, and yet now I speak out against it. I wish I could say that I evolved to a place where I was mature enough to just get it without having ever harmed a soul. But regretfully, I didn’t fully understand until after I had committed grave harm, falling as low as one can
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