ghost, San Mateo I’ve never really felt guilty about anything except this one evening. I was fresh out from school around 3 o’clock, my friends only had six periods, so they were already out and waiting for me at the yard. My boy from school, J and my other friend from another school approached me. J told me he just copped a few bars (Xanax) to flip. So, I was like damn let me cop some and he said it was good, so I bought four and popped them right there. So, we went to this park right there, like
Continue ReadingLooking Ahead
B, Saramento Looking ahead, I see me in the future. My path not certain yet. I’m either on the block or dead. I don’t know why, that’s the feeling I get often, you feel me. So I just thug it throughout the day. It do be lookin’ promising, but if that’s what the future holds, I gotta be prepared. Because life is tricky. And death gon’ be easy, but life is very hard. You just gotta, or should, I say me, I gotta find a goal and set my focus on that. I’m always to worry about that and looking
Continue ReadingThis Life
by Gucc, San Mateo The life of Gucc is crazy. The heart of Gucc is gone. Being me has been a hard job. Ever since I could remember my life has been hectic. My pops was a demon so he birthed a red-rum child. They kept it real with me at a young age. They told me I’ll probably get killed by my right hand man. I’ve seen how being in jail everyone leaves you for dead. Sometimes I feel like I could have gone to the (professional sports) league, but the court I went to, as they are tryin’
Continue ReadingROOTED [HIS]TORY
by SADGIRLpapi cuentame otro cuento (daddy, tell me another story)i would askthrough the absence of his presencehe’d tell me of his journey back homeback to my mom and mei remember looking at his picturesand longing for the tickling stubs of his growing beardfor his piggy back rides or how he’d carry me on his shouldersand the way his hands cupped my cheeks with adoration papi cuentame otro cuentoi would ask when he’d come back from his weeks away workinghe’d tell me of the melting snowthe cold creeks and growing rivershe’d tell me the stories of the land and agriculture how he farmed
Continue ReadingReflecting On This Life
by Z One morning in the 2nd grade, instead of walking into school how I usually did, I convinced my friend to ditch school with me and go to the arcades. But we had no money. My solution: Knock door to door, telling people we were hungry and homeless, asking specifically for quarters please. And some people actually gave us money. But one lady and her daughter, they grabbed my friend. They called the cops. The cops thought it was funny when they came and took us away. We were scared. Me more so of losing the pocketful of change
Continue ReadingAcceptance
by Q. Paige, San Quentin State Prison Something everyone wants but is bias in their own act of accepting. Webster Dictionary defines acceptance as “The act of accepting.” Webster Thesaurus defines accept as “to have favorable opinion of. Then they lead you to approve (of).” Let’s speak of the Thesaurus definition of accept because I think that’s right on the money. To accept someone there has to be favorable qualities about them to even get you to consider. As I spoke of in my autobiography, “Too Black For Some, Not Back Enough For Others.” I had a very hard time
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Volume 26.11/12
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 26.11/12
Welcome back friends to another powerful double issue, 26.11/12, of The Beat Within. We are incredibly honored to feature the talents of so many thoughtful writers and teachers – inside and out – who courageously share their stories and art with our ever-growing community. We are learning so much from you all. We can’t thank you enough for embracing The Beat Within. This week we have our beloved friend and long -time colleague OT, back to share his thoughts in the editorial section of our magazine. We always know, OT has plenty to share and offer, so without further ado….
Continue ReadingTreading Lightly
by Jesus, San Diego Honestly, I’m not sure where my life is going. I’m literally in the middle. I am mentally ready to succeed in the world and try to live life differently. But sometimes, my actions show differently. It’s crazy how hard I’m trying to do good but I always mess up in a matter of seconds. I just had a fight a couple days ago. I think I went on my longest streak of two months without a fight, so I felt I was past due to mess up and I did. But now I’m back on the
Continue ReadingHow to Teach Others to Be Kind
by H, Los Angeles I’ve always been one to lend a hand to people who are in desperate times and needs even though they’ve rarely extended their hands to me. At times, it kinda sucks because the world would be a better place if everyone looked out for everyone. But, at the end of the day, it’s not gonna be like that. The only way to make it that way is to pay it forward. Lend people your attention and affection and maybe they’ll appreciate it a lot and do it for someone else. That’s the only way to do
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