by Michael Webb Back in the early 1970’s I watched my favorite TV show Emergency. As a child I dreamed of becoming a fireman just like the firemen on Emergency. Every time the bell would ring and the big red shining engine fifty-one would leave the station on a run, I would imitate it with my firetruck. Also, I pictured myself going to rescue a stranded person or putting out a fire. As I grew older the innocence I once had as a child became lost. That was when my neighborhood became heavenly infested with drug dealers and violent gang
Continue ReadingYear: 2016
Turning It Around
by Brandon It is never too late to turn your life around. Through your whole life many opportunities will approach you to change your life around for the better but it will be up to you to want to change your life. No one can make you do anything but it is up to you to realize what’s best for yourself. Personally, my plan is to graduate high school and then go to college for as long as it takes to become a nurse in the medical eld. Stanley Tookie Williams, a man who was incarcerated for several years on
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Continue ReadingIncarcerated Youth ‘Must Accept Our Mistakes’ / The Beat Within / The Crime Report
Greetings all! Today, The Crime Report, based in New York City, picked up, posted and is featuring the thoughtful commentary from workshop participant, Daniel. It is a pleasure to see Daniel’s hard-work featured today on The Crime Report website. We have been working closely with him this summer in creating this amazing piece, Incarcerated Youth “Must Accept Our Mistakes.’ Daniel participates in The Beat Within from the Solano County Juvenile Hall in Fairfield, CA. Incarcerated Youth ‘Must Accept Our Mistakes’ http://thecrimereport.org/2016/08/02/the-beat-within-we-must-accept-our-mistakes/ Homepage http://thecrimereport.org/ If you missed last month’s post, ‘Prison Swallows Your Deams,’ here’s the link… http://thecrimereport.org/2016/06/28/prison-swallows-your-dreams/ Thanks for your time and support.
Continue ReadingBelieve in Yourself
by Dortell Williams As I sat in my concrete cage, looking at the massive failure I’ve made of my life, I’ve wondered: “What is the secret to success?” What does it take to be successful? Over time, I came to recognize that this is where history comes into play. I’m not talking about going back centuries, though you can if you want. But just recent history is good enough. For instance, to see how failure occurs, all I needed was to look at myself: Hanging with the wrong crowd, not listening to sound advice, being sel sh and greedy. All
Continue ReadingWho Will I Be?
by Summer What am I to the world? Nothing but a torn down knock, juvenile delinquent, slut, gang banger, hooligan. I’m not sure. At seventeen I’ve become all the above. I’m afraid I will turn out like my daddy, torn down, gang banger, in prison doing twenty-eight years for a crime he should have never committed. I love my dad but now all I see is a coward. Why did you have to use a gun? Growing up, all I’ve had are my two sts. I’m angry that he (my dad) would give up raising me for a color, but
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Continue ReadingThe Beat and Me
by Michael Mackey This program (The Beat Within) has changed my life by giving me the feedback and courage to open up about my problems, to seek help, understand things that I cannot gure out on my own, meet new friends (good friends), and to be heard by many. I didn’t really open up to people, I didn’t let people know the real me, when I wanted to be heard or understood, no one ever helped or listened to what I had to say. And those who did hear what I had to say twisted my words and took advantage
Continue ReadingThe Power of The Mind
by Daniel To the amazing young men and women incarcerated across the United States of America – my question to you is this. Take a long, hard look at where you at. Ask yourself – do you like where you are right now? I’m assuming that most of the readers of The Beat Within are looking from left to right at the overall same things: three walls, a ceiling, a door that you cannot push, pull, or turn open, a stainless steel sink, toilet, and a steel mirror. I’m also assuming you have trouble sleeping at night in your cell.
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