Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this latest issue.
Continue ReadingYear: 2015
Make Up Your Mind
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
Continue ReadingMakings of a Man
by John How do you define a man? The law considers all boys to be men at age 18. But I feel age plays a minimal role in achieving manhood. A man is not defined by his age, but instead by his values, morals, and most of all his actions. For example my father is 18 years older than me, but I truly believe I am more of a man than him. Here’s why. Real men hold woman at high value, they nourish and protect women, and show them the utmost respect. A real man would never degrade a woman, let
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VOLUME 20.41/42
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this latest issue.
Continue ReadingTo The Beat and Beat Readers
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
Continue ReadingA Message To Others
by Daniel My name is Daniel and I’m about to be 17 years old. I’m facing 12 years for aggravated assault, assault with a deadly weapon. You guys really don’t seem to understand the bad decisions you are making. It doesn’t just affect you, it affects the others that are around you; your family and friends to be speci c. It’s disappointing to see these kids that are fteen and sixteen years old serving life sentences without chance of parole. Think of how your mom feels about you being locked up. Think about the bad example you are setting for
Continue ReadingTHE BEAT WITHIN/JJIE
Hello friends, I am pleased to share with you The Beat Within’s latest piece that was picked up by the JJIE (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange). The following piece, was written by one of our faithful writers, Michael Webb. Michael has been a consistent participant in our monthly writing and conversation workshop inside San Quentin State Prison. These workshops were initially open to only juvenile lifers, but given the popularity, the classes are now open to all eligible men on the yard. Our latest class has over 30 participants. We are certainly thrilled to be in partnership with the JJIE which is based at Kennesaw State University near Atlanta, GA.
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VOLUME 20.39/40
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this latest issue.
Continue ReadingTHE BEAT WITHIN/JJIE
Hello all, Today the JJIE (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange) picked up the following piece from The Beat Within. This commentary was written during one of our recent weekly writing workshops inside the Alameda County Juvenile Justice Center. We encourage you to give Adajah’s piece, “A Dog Locked in a Cage” a read. http://jjie.org/a-dog-locked-in-a-cage/142419/ If you haven’t already done so, please consider reading other entries from The Beat that the JJIE has posted, here’s the link… http://jjie.org/category/ideas-and-opinions/the-beat-within/ We truly thank you for your continued support. As always, please consider sharing these important writings with your community.
Continue ReadingOpportunities for Hatred
by Rashaan Thomas I could have been Bill Gates. Well, I could have been a half Black and half Puerto Rican CEO of a software company the size of Microsoft or bigger. Bill Gates could have worked for me. Instead, I let hatred turn me into a killer. You see, my mother saw the future was computers. In the early eighties, she enrolled me in basic programming courses while I was still in high school. She also purchased the Commodore 64 computer. I put it to use programming and selling bootleg video games. Then my little brother got shot. It
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