by DS, Missoula, Montana Hey there ten-year-old, I am just going to start this off by saying one thing you should learn right now: you need to stop and think before you do something, and you need to stay out of trouble because where I am is not where you want to be. I would also like to add that you need to watch who you hang out with and who will and will not be getting in trouble, because all these little bits of trouble that you get into make a tumbleweed effect, and it starts to grow and
Continue ReadingAbout Me and My Life
by JB, San Mateo Everyone who knows me calls me JB. Let me tell you about how my life has been for my sixteen years that I’ve been alive. It’s crazy how young I am and all the experiences and struggles I’ve been through. I’m Salvadorian and Guatemalan. I was born at Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto, CA., but I’ve lived all over the place. I honestly move every year to different houses and apartments. I’m currently located up at Hillcrest (juvenile) in San Mateo for my third time and my last because I’ve got to learn how you
Continue ReadingNo Normal Reaction
by Marlon, San Mateo Celebrating the dead over the living. November 25, I remember the sound of loud arguing vividly, one voice from someone very close to me and another voice from a stranger, the argument went on for a long time. I remember sitting there watching and feeling bored. My big cousin had just stole some man’s belongings. Him and this grown man had began, both getting very heated. “Give me my shhh back, lil bro!” said this grown man. My cousin responded with an evil smirk, as he replied “nah, screw you” and just like that I wasn’t
Continue ReadingEmpathy Is What Will Bring Change
by Dortell Williams With this ethical will, the most important concept I wish to share with the world is that of empathy. Through lived experience, I was extremely apathetic, greedy, and selfish man. Today, more than any other time in my memory, segments of the world, in politics, in corporate settings, and in general society, are mirroring my previous venomous values. Here of late, society seems to be driven deeper and more frequently by conflict, contention and anger. This trio of character liabilities undergirds the worst decision I ever made in my life. A decision I deeply regret ’til this
Continue ReadingWho I Am Now
by Binh Nguyen, California State Prison, Solano in Vacaville, CA After many years of using drugs and committing crimes to avoid dealing with my problems, I’ve had enough. I wasn’t satisfied with the way my life was going. I was tired of living a criminal lifestyle. I was a prisoner in my own distorted thoughts and desperately needed to free myself. CHANGE was a matter of life or death for me. I chose LIFE. Today, I have been clean and sober for three years and seven months. I am living a life in recovery by applying the 12-steps into my
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Volume 25.39/40
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 25.39/40
Greetings! We welcome back you readers to another fabulous edition, 25.39/40, of the one and only The Beat Within. This latest issue is packed with wonderful writings and art from our many outstanding contributors and friends. We know there is plenty to read and share, so we are thrilled that you have this latest issue in your hands. This week we have asked our long-time friend and colleague, OT, to write this latest editorial note. There is no need to give you any further background, given OT will take it from here… I was introduced to The Beat Within, a
Continue ReadingWe Can If We Tried
by JL, Sacramento Together, I feel we can do a lot of things. I feel if we could come together as one, or as groups who want to do good, we can change the world. I feel that all people could work together and be something great. We could see what we all have in common to bring us more together. I feel like it’s not a lot of actual racism, but a lot of racially biased people. People believe they are better than a race because the color of their skin, the amount of money they have, their looks,
Continue ReadingI’ll Make Up For Those Times
by AS, Sacramento “My mama always used to tell me, ‘if you can’t find something to live for, you best find something to die for.’” -Tupac Shakur What I think of this week’s quote is I believe in what he says. My mom always told me, “Boy, you got to go find a job.” I never wanted to get a job. I wanted to be out, smoking with my friends, going to parties, trynna look for something to do. Even hang out with girls. I never wanted to take responsibility with my life. I just wanted to have fun. I
Continue ReadingDismantle The System
by Missy aka Infinite Mentality, San Mateo County Concept: The abolition of the criminal injustice system is at the root of designing this mural. Now more than ever the deep wound inflicted upon the oppressed is showing face in a magnitude of ways. The prison industrial complex is the beating heart embedded deep within the mechanisms of these systems of oppression rooted in white supremacist politics. As the University community returns to school this Fall 2020 it is my intention with this mural to spark a deep reflection into an experience many in this community never have come to live
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