Thank you for your support and partnership, we made it! We celebrated The Beat Within’s 27th anniversary of service and we made it through our hardest year ever, after the loss of my beloved husband and Beat Within founder, David Inocencio. I know he is proud to watch us from his angel perch and see that we have continued his legacy. The Beat goes on, just like he always said. David’s work this year expanded into Stanislaus and Vacaville, we are proud to share their stories and welcome them to our Beat Within family. Please continue to send us your
Continue ReadingYear: 2024
Make a Future Yourself
by Marlon, San Francisco Freedom isn’t being incarcerated in any prison, jail or j-hall and having a scheduled plan for you every day. Also, it’s not being told how you have to dress and act towards others. Also, it’s not being watched daily by even people you don’t like or get along with on a daily basis. You might even run into people from your past that you might not get along with or just want problems with just to get clout or have their homies mess with them more as a person, trying to gain respect or possibly anything
Continue ReadingThe King of my Dreams
by LH, Sacramento “Happy holidays,” they sayNothing seems happy when you are far awayI take the time out of my day to let you know that I own up to my mistakes.Kings and queens in a castle like a game of speed Running out of time, damn I wish I had my teamMy mom, the greatest person, but damn, her criticism is meanI know she means well so I don’t blame her, I blame me If only I would have chosen a different route I would be with my king in a castle all aloneWondering why his mommy can’t be,Be with him, be the
Continue ReadingMy Condolences
by Warren Corley, San Quentin State Prison, CA My condolences to you and my blessing to each child man and woman who are forever related to him in family intimacy, love and spirt. Dave’s spirit was a beautiful and very strong flame. A white light that boldly made itself felt by making the darkness flee. Love is that powerful and he brought a brave energy that tore down the safe house that I had and locked my spirit away inside. My name is Warren Corley. He called me by my nickname “focus”. He like Phillie’s Focus or Blackrose is my
Continue ReadingDear Beat Within
by Lexi, Albuquerque Detention Center, NM It’s Lexi. I know I haven’t written in a while since I been out of jail, but I got a few updates for you. Since I was released from JDC I’ve been doing really well for myself since I got out of rehab. I moved into my own place which feels like a big accomplishment for me. I’m still getting my apartment put together at the moment. I have been working with two organizations in my community upon my release from jail. I actually work for an organization called La Plazita Institute. It’s located
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Volume 28.47/48
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 28.47/48
Welcome back to another stellar issue of The Beat Within! We’re thrilled to have you with us to share the important and necessary mission of uplifting the voices of our incarcerated community around the country. As always, the writing in this issue is honest, critical, and deeply personal. Thank you, we are so impressed by the level of care and attention our writers bring to their work day in and day out. Now, we turn it over to two of our interns from Urban High School of San Francisco, Kaya and Noah, to share their reflections for our editorial section.
Continue ReadingMy Baby Mama and Newborn Motivate Me
by M, San Francisco What motivates me every day is my baby mama and my newborn child on the way. The reason why that motivates me is because I want to prove to those who doubt me and don’t believe in me every day. I also wanna be able to prove to my whole family or at least those who still care, and that are there, but I’m going to be the best father for my child, and be possibly better than my father has been in my personal childhood. For example, being in this position really had me think
Continue ReadingMy Little Ones
by MV, Sacramento My little ones are my two younger brothers. I love them both to death although I’m not close to them. Through the years of 2020 to now I feel like I felt responsible for them as an older sister. I am the oldest alongside my twin of four. My two younger brothers are my life although I wasn’t too active in theirs I still try to be around. I know my brothers think I’m mean sometimes but it’s tough love, I like to think. I hope my little ones don’t think of me differently ‘cause I’m incarcerated
Continue ReadingStriving For a Better Self
by Freddy Huante, San Quentin State Prison, CA This month is kind of hard for me. I have been down since I have been nineteen years old. My birthday is in November, and being in here, I am now thirty years old. I am tired of being in prison. I have done so much work already and still have so much to do. I wish so badly I never did the things I have done that led me to come to prison doing eighty-one-years-to-life, and this being my first time ever being in trouble. It’s a lot to ponder on.
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