Greetings friends of The Beat Within! Welcome to double issue, 24.41/42! This issue is truly packed with plenty of thoughtful writers and we are grateful! This week, like most issues, we have our right hand man, OT, stepping up to the plate to share his insights with us readers of The Beat Within. OT, has been a great colleague and friend of The Beat Within for many years and for that we are incredibly grateful. His love and commitment speaks volumes. Given we are on such a tight deadline, lets pass the keyboard to OT!!!
We would like welcome you readers back to another double dose edition of the one and only The Beat Within. Another report of the young, old, the wise, the happy, the thankful, the grateful and the blessed! Yes, fellas, and ladies, we are all blessed to be alive, with our hearts beating, and inhaling this fresh air. Fresh air, you’re about to say? There’s nothing fresh about this air in this facility! Well I guess, there ain’t that much fresh air where I’m at with all these buses, and cars in this traffic polluting air! So your air maybe fresher than mine. By the way folks, this is OT once again reporting to you live from the 100 degree weather and 70% humidity air in Nicaragua. No fellas, I’m not complaining but damn it’s hot!
Most of you guys reading this are in America: Santa Clara, Solano, New Mexico, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Washing D.C. etc. You get my drift. Whether you are in or out the prison or juvenile system, you are probably kicking back drinking a shot of coffee while you’re reading this. To the youngsters: you guys don’t get any coffee in juvie I think, that would make y’all way too hyphy, plus I don’t even think that many of the youth are not coffee fanatics just yet, but believe me, young ladies and gentlemen, coffee is good!
Well, it’s only right that I sip on a little bit of coffee to get some motivation and inspiration so I can deliver the message of the week. For those who know my story, again I will not repeat it, but just know for you young ladies and gentlemen, that I’ve sat in those same juvenile hall seats, specifically San Mateo aka Hillcrest. I went to the Ranch, after the Ranch I then graduated to the Adult Prison System.
My life, was real inconsistent for a while. Many people when they think of life and where they’re headed, they think of their careers, but because of money and changes in our system and technology a lot of us take up jobs that we are necessarily not passionate about. That’s okay. You have to get paid. You can’t sell dope forever. Look at the guys that thought they could, like El Chapo, Big Meech, Pablo Escobar, etc. Just to name a few. That’s a dead end street. Some of us don’t catch on because we are blinded by our ego. The signs are there. Just like when you look for directions using Google Maps, or your Smartphone application, right?
Or for those that have caught the bus, Bart, the trains, we’ve all had a destination we’ve had to go to. Like when you first get out and have to go meet your PO at their office, or go to the hospital to visit a relative. A lot of you young people are real smart. You know where the things are at. You know how to get to Mickey D’s, Wing Stop, or Apple Bee’s whether it be on car, bus or train.
You know how to get to the shoe store to cop those new Jay’s that just came out, or them new Air Maxes. You know how to figure things out. Y’all smart. You guys are actually a lot smarter than the last generation. I know people that are three times as old as you and still can’t send a text message, Sorry I’m not talking about you Kroll. Much love! I know seven and eight year olds that are tech savvy on those tablets.
When I was that age all I had was a Sega Genesis and a Super Nintendo. That’s as far as technology meant to me: Mortal Kombat, NBA Live, Madden, Super Smash Bros. I didn’t even know what a cell phone was at the time, besides maybe what I saw in the movies. So you guys have something working to your favor. You have a lot more resources at your disposal. While indeed life is still hard, and arguably harder than before, there have been people dedicated to helping out the youth and the elderly for the past few decades.
So, as Iife has been getting harder for everyone, there have been more people, more non-profits, and more people that have been socially conscious and working harder and dedicated to helping people out. These people have dedicated their lives and careers to assisting and helping the youth. We’re not alone fellas. You have some people on your team. You have people that want to see you win.
For all you young folks reading this, you have a lot of OG’s in the adult system plus alumni, and you can find them in the BWO section, that really want to reach out to you and help you out. Some of these writers are desperately reaching out, and hoping you don’t make same mistakes they made.
I’m also one of them ladies and gentlemen. I don’t want anyone going through the same challenges I went through, even though I know at times it’s inevitable. We all have choices that we need to make in this life and I’m not going to give you the ole cliche, I hope you make the right choice, pep talk. I hope you do make the choice that you feel in your heart that you want to make. Don’t do things that you don’t want to do. I read about a lot of you fellas doing things that you already regret, or your forced into situations to do things that you don’t want to do.
If you don’t like your school, your neighborhood, or your job, look for something that you would like to do. That job, is not going to come knocking on your door. YOU have to LOOK for it. If you’re stuck in a situation you don’t want to be in, it’s time to LOOK for something BETTER. I’m probably making it sound simpler than it is, but you have to LOOK. Looking doesn’t mean look for five minutes and give up. I never said that you will find it right away. It’s still a process, but you have to keep LOOKING for as long as it takes.
If you are looking for a better way in life, you have to go find it. You have to LOOK for it. Don’t become complacent and think that you will never make it out the hood. Don’t be a quitter and don’t think that you are alone. When you think you are alone don’t be shy or lazy and LOOK for help. It may not come right away, but look for it and it will find you. Don’t be afraid to look for a change, and a better way of life.
One love to everybody locked down or going through some type of struggle. A special dedication to Beat writer and artist, Michael Mackey. Congratulations on the graduation and I hope this is the beginning of the many more accomplishments that you will tackle. One love! And The Beat keeps going and going…
We couldn’t say it any better. Thank you OT for your words of wisdom! We send all our love and respect to all you readers. Reach out to us anytime! We’d love to hear your story!