by Rodrigo During my time as a junior in high school, I wasn’t no Einstein. I did the least amount of school work and I didn’t like reading. Whenever I had a test, it felt like the real test was how to cheat without getting caught. On my last day of my junior year, I turned in my final test. I passed it with a little help from my friend sitting in the desk to the right of me. I felt accomplished. When the principal of the school came to the classroom and told me to come with her and
Continue ReadingYear: 2019
Thankful for Grandma
by Lil Danny I find myself thankful for my grandma, because she’s always been there for me. She raised me whenever my dad wasn’t around. She means a lot to me because she tried to keep me out of trouble. She told me to do right, but it was hard, because all I knew was wrong. She tried to help me whenever she could. She picked me up from the police station before they took me to juvenile hall. She gave me advice to do right. She told me she’ll take me to places if I behaved good. She gave
Continue ReadingVolume 24.47/48
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 24.47/48
Greetings! Another week, another Beat! We are thrilled to present you with this amazing, one of a kind, heartfelt and moving double issue, 24.47/48, of The Beat Within. Like every issue we create, this is full of writing and artwork to inspire and give hope. We are grateful to you writers who embrace our workshop topics, as well as you writers who independently reach out to us with your submissions, thank you all. Your writings are more important now than ever before.  We believe the impact you have on our readers is tremendous and we can’t thank you enough
Continue ReadingIn My Teens Now
by Jeremiah I don’t remember being born, but I do remember my birthplace, Kaiser Permanente, Redwood City, CA. The first house I remember living at was in Oakland, CA, where I had my moms and pops, and an older brother. Before me, they lived in San Mateo, CA. I have dull memories at the Oakland house, but major events took place. A man laid in the street dead, I was about three years old when I seen that. I split my head open on the corner of marble stairs, leaving a permanent scar on my forehead. Think that’s harsh? One
Continue ReadingHow Art Helped Me to See the Redeeming Qualities in Other Prisoners
by Donald “C-Note†Hooker California has a whole host of criminal statutes in which if found guilty of violating does not determine if a person has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor. These crimes are called Wobblers. Only at the time of sentencing, and depending on how the court chooses to administer the sentence, will the violation be determined as a felony or misdemeanor. Any non-state prison sentence makes the violation a misdemeanor. When California passed the Three Strikes law it allowed persons convicted of a Wobbler’s low term prison sentence to be put away for Life. As a
Continue ReadingVolume 24.45/46
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 24.45/46
Greetings friends to another double issue (24.45/46) of writing and art from inside juvenile hall and beyond. This fabulous, one of a kind, issue is packed with many great contributions from our writers, young and old. Who courageously put pen(cil) to paper as they share a part of their lives with us. We are confident that after reading a number of these entries, our one of a kind publication will pull you in and inspire you to share your story with The Beat Within. We can’t say it enough, but we absolutely love when you powerful writers take on our
Continue ReadingTheir True Colors
by Jorge Many people but not all people should get the chance to get a second chance or many chances. People should get an opportunity for a second – chance on success on school, a good job and just in life in general. People could get a chance to do what they really want to do in life. When people get a second chance and really think about it, they’ll show their true colors and put a piece of mind in to what they doing in life. Also, people should get many chances but only if they are worthy for second chances. They could’ve not
Continue ReadingLeave Me Alone
by Jesus For day after day They seek me out They seem eager to know my ways As if they were a nation that does What is right in their ways You can’t even pronounce my last name What a shame Man, get out of my face You look at me like I’m the next corruption All you can do is pull nothing but Judges and grudges You look at me like I’m nothing But I really am something You have no one else to blame So you blame it on my father Like if he really wanted to hurt ma and his
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