Welcome readers and writers to yet another marvelous issue of The Beat Within, where incarcerated writers from near and far come together to voice their testimony. It’s a true honor to be a home for your thoughts and experiences, and we’re so grateful to each and every one of you for letting us into your journey.
We’re turning our editorial section over to two of our interns from Urban High School of San Francisco, Julia, and Lucia. Julia gives us a peak into the foundational class that The Beat works alongside with, and Lucia details the tender experience of transcribing and spending with another’s words. Welcome, Julia and Lucia!
So Much Admiration
Prior to working with The Beat Within, I was taking a class at my school called Voices of Incarceration. This class is what really prompted me to look for a way to become involved, which was where I found The Beat.
This class has taught me compassion and empathy for those incarcerated. I feel extremely privileged to be able to hear the narratives of people incarcerated and formerly incarcerated through this class.
Before this class, I had never really thought much about the carceral system and I did not take the time to understand what was wrong with it. Now, I realize how important it is to be educated about the justice system and to amplify the voices of people that are incarcerated.
Once I understood their stories and who they were as people, my whole perspective shifted. All of the pieces were moving for me. Each one was well crafted and written. I really enjoyed Angel’s pieces and “Life is Confusing” by Anthony. These pieces were particularly vulnerable and personal.
I love the depth of these writings because it feels like I really get to know these people. A prompt, provided by The Beat that always moved me was “How do you want to be remembered?” because every response included that they just did not want to be forgotten. I cannot imagine what it must feel like to be away from all your loved ones and worry that they will forget about you.
Those excerpts stuck with me for a long time after transcribing them. I learned that the justice system is broken and makes it immensely difficult for people to change, therefore I have great appreciation for all the incarcerated people because they are so willing to help others and share their experiences. The prison system is so outdated and dehumanizing. Every person that goes through that inspires me.
I was able to relate to a lot of what I was transcribing. There were lots of mentions of strong family connections which I relate to because I have a very big family.
Transcribing felt important and made me really happy, I also felt grateful for all of my privilege. Yet, it was challenging because of how deep and touching these stories were.
I am so happy I was able to be a part of such an important and special program. I feel lucky to be able to read all the submissions from people incarcerated and it brings me so much joy to be a part of the process in sharing their stories.
I have so much admiration for each writer for all they have been through, continue to go through, and for their ability to maintain a positive attitude and express vulnerability and courage in sharing their stories.
The Beat Within and my Voices class have truly changed me as a person. For one, I realize that the carceral system is something that needs more attention and something that I am very passionate about.
I hope to keep in touch with The Beat. I know that I will keep my connections to incarcerated people beyond this class and opportunity, and it has become a priority of mine to be a part of making an impact for these people.
-Julia, Urban High School
Putting Together the Puzzle
Before I began work with The Beat Within, I didn’t know much about the justice system. I knew it was biased and structured to uphold institutional racism. I knew that children spent time in separate facilities from adults.
But I didn’t know what the experience was like for them, especially in terms of contact with their families and loved ones. Obviously, I knew in my head that everyone in there was a person with thoughts and feelings and experiences, but I am privileged enough that I didn’t have any personal, firsthand experience with the justice system.
I had subconsciously created distance between myself and incarcerated people, and The Beat Within challenged this. It was eye-opening to hear personal stories about these issues I’d previously only heard in a generalized context, especially when multiple submissions were made by the same youth; it felt like I had just realized I was putting together a puzzle and only had half of the pieces.
This gave me a greater sense of individual connection and understanding to the authors of the submissions I was transcribing, and I saw only the most vulnerable parts of them.
Usually, we meet people superficially before we get to know them, but The Beat Within offered me the opposite: I heard youths’ secrets and stories and feelings, but never saw their faces. The individual stories made the justice system more personal, but I still didn’t get to meet them. I heard their stories, but some of them didn’t even sign their names, and I only learned what they wanted to share.
All of their stories taught me that incarceration can either cause someone to decide to give up and push them into a cycle of crime and violence, or it can push them to realize what they truly want to do with their life. I transcribed pieces from youth that demonstrated both responses, and my heart broke for all of them.
When the prompt was about people they look up to, so many youth talked about people that were rich. They desired the security, the opportunity to take care of their family and friends, and the comfort that comes along with financial stability.
Even when they mentioned the desire for money, which many people would say is superficial, they wrote it in the same sentence as their selfless goals: to help their mom with rent, to spoil their younger siblings, and to go to school or get a stable job. It was hard to transcribe their pain, joy, and challenges because I wanted to maintain the integrity of their work by ensuring that their voices were heard while making sure that they didn’t mention anything incriminating or offensive.
The Beat Within provided me with instructions to ensure the safety of the writers, but I was careful with every edit I made, since they weren’t able to look over their work before it’s published. The changes I made were final, and since their names are attached to the work, I wanted them to feel satisfied with their words, and not feel like I put new ones in their mouth.
My work was intended to support theirs, not to overshadow it, and I edited with empathy and a new sense of understanding for the people whose voices I was raising.
-Lucia, Urban High School
Thank you, Julia, and Lucia, for the effort and dedication you brought to The Beat during your internship. It definitely takes a village to produce this publication every other week, and we appreciate your hand in making it happen!
If any of our writers are getting out of juvenile hall soon, we encourage you to drop us a line and let us know how you’re doing! We’d love to continue featuring your voice in our pages, and we’ll send you a complimentary copy of The Beat you’re published in. We’re here for you now and always and can’t wait to see the many amazing things you accomplish. The Beat goes on!