-Jay, San Quentin State Prison, CA To the youth and others, I hope this inspires you to never give up, to not lose faith. I know it’s hard. Even though you may feel lost and helpless, it will be alright. You are stronger than you think. You are special and priceless. Do not give up hope. Where there is darkness there is light. Even when you feel and think you’re alone, you’re not. The struggles, trials and tribulations will only make you stronger and wiser. Never submit to the hardships. Do not lose faith.
Continue ReadingYear: 2024
Volume 29.07/08
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 29.07/08
Greetings to our Beat Within community near and far! We’re proud to present our latest issue to you, full of amazing work from incarcerated youth and adults across the country. This issue’s editorial note is brought to you by two of our interns from Urban High School of San Francisco, Justin and Marco! Through Justin’s reflection, we learn how his internship with us was able to expand and clarify a lot of what he’s known about the justice system while growing up. With Marco, we’re let in on the ways that he identified with many of the writers he encountered
Continue ReadingI Am a Universe of Eternity
-Raymond White Jr, Corcoran State Prison in Corcoran, CA I would want to be remembered for many thingsAt the end of life’s chapterBut time of future partly divides usFor now, and when I pass away manyYears that my eyes have yet to perceiveI would just love to imagine the beauty through life’s mysteryWhere the signature move of Michael Jackson’sMoonwalk will gracefully slide like iceAcross the moon’s landscapeOutside in space where the sparklingStars burn silent, I want to hearHis song “Human Nature” plays inSpiritual tune, his astounding voice tellingMe, Why? Why? And then I say byReply, Michael, it’s just “Human Nature”Melodies
Continue ReadingFather and Son
-Eliazar Guerra, San Quentin State Prison, CA Before the streets came between my father and I, we were as close as a father and son could be. As I started running the streets, I began to take my father for granted. I stopped appreciating all the things he wanted for me to have. He wasn’t perfect, but he was there. He attended any ballgame that he could. He loved me. I lost sight of that because the drugs, parties, sports, and bad habits blinded me. He once told me that he wouldn’t be here one day, and that I would
Continue ReadingShe is my Sun to my Galaxy
-B, Sacramento My first experience with true love, pure love is with my daughter. My moms tried to provide that for me. My child’s mother tried to give that to me, but the love my mother showed me didn’t process in my mind what it really was. So, I suffered from abandonment issues and I would push away the people who loved me, until I met my daughter in person. It changed my whole world and perspective on love and how to love, so I’ve been working on myself. You have to love yourself before
Continue ReadingEvery Loss as a Lesson
-Efrain, San Mateo My proudest accomplishment has to be learning how to learn from my mistakes. Even right now, I’m taking every loss as a lesson instead of letting it get to me and letting it make me feel worse. Even in situations like this, I’ve got to learn to not let things get to me. Even if the situation is big or small, I know eventually I’ll go home. Even if it isn’t anytime soon, I’ll use this to endure and hopefully not go back to what I used to do, because I don’t want to end up dead
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Volume 29.05/06
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 29.05/06
Welcome back, readers and writers, to another thoughtful and timely edition of The Beat Within. While we were editing this latest publication, we received devastating news that our colleague and former Beat writer, Hayden Renato, passed away suddenly. Our longtime facilitator for Alameda County, Zach Wyner, is here with us to share a few words about Hayden’s journey, and to celebrate this young person’s life and mission. Hayden was a fierce advocate for youth justice and will be deeply missed by our community. “If children are to succeed, then we need to matter. I can’t stress this enough. We are
Continue ReadingDedicated to you All
-Efren Bullard, SP in Blythe, CA It’s been a while since I last wrote. The reason is because I had not received a magazine in maybe five or six months. So, I figured I would just wait until I receive my next issue and then I would respond. Well, on December 12th, 2023 I was sitting in my cell when the officer called my name for mail. I walked to the door and was handed a big envelope and I knew it was from The Beat Within. I also received a small envelope with a letter. So, like most people,
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