Category: Piece of the Week

-Margucci, San Francisco I speak truth when I speakAll my life I held it inIt’s time to let it freeI’m not gonna lie, I’m a tweakerPlease just let me beDon’t like situation ultimatumsLike either you or meBecause if it go down, I’m goin upI’m choosin meMan, I think I love this girlProlly found my peaceI’m on to bigger, better thingsHear it in my speechI’m workin hard, I got scarsDreams within my reachI want to wake up and see wavesHouse up on the beachIf you tryna hear the truthThen you should speak to me.

-Lul B, San Mateo  One day I was laying down on the couch when I heard a woman scream. I wanted to help, so I got up. Then I heard a loud noise outside of my house. I opened the door, and I saw two people arguing. I wasn’t surprised because it’s a pretty normal thing in my neighborhood. A man was yelling at a pregnant woman and the woman seemed to be crying. It reminded me of the old days between my mom and my dad and I got angry. Then I saw the man push the female away,

-JJ, Albuquerque  Kindness to me is being thoughtful and doing nice things. Things like throwing your neighborhood’s trash, or walking an old person’s dog. What I like to do is tell people they’re okay when they are having a bad time in their life.  Like here in juvenile hall, kids come in and cry because they want to go home. I tell them they will be okay and will be home soon and not to worry. Knowing I won’t be home for twenty-plus years, I like to comfort kids who will be home in a few weeks or a couple

-Professor Fatback, Santa Cruz  I feel like things that all humans deserve are free health care and clothes. Yes, I understand that people gotta work for that stuff, but to be honest, those two things should be free and even food.  Another thing I think people deserve is the truth, no matter what and even if it’s gonna hurt someone or help them. Everyone deserves to know the truth.  I also feel that everyone deserves to be loved, genuinely loved by someone. Not fake love where they say I love you here and there. I’m talking about someone you can

-YM, Albuquerque I had a few teachers in my life. My first teachers were my mom and dad. They always showed me right from wrong, and how to treat the people you love or respect. They also taught me how to love. I appreciate them a lot for that.  My other teachers have been my big brothers. My first big brother is my blood. We have the same mom. I’m not gonna say his name because he wouldn’t want me to, but he taught me how to be a man, he and my dad did. He taught me to stand

-Gabriel, Santa Cruz  I deserve to be home with my family. So far, I’ve been trying my absolute best, but I keep finding myself in situations. I just wanna move on with life and move on with probation.  I’m sad to see myself back here. I was doing so good, almost off probation. I wish I woulda thought about my actions before doing what I did. If I do get released, I wanna engage in sports to keep me occupied with my day and I just wanna prove I can do good and successfully get off probation.  I wish I

-David, Sonoma  I’ve always been different from all of my classmates or my peers. I’ve been called different for a lot of things, whether it was because of my childhood or the things I do or how I do them, and even what I’ve been through.  The way I talk is a big one. I have been around a lot of “hoodlums” and I talk a lot of slag. I talk a little bit different, as people have told me a few times. I’ve had a lot of traumas as a young minority. Hung around different people my whole life,

-JP, Albuquerque  I will never forget how to choose loved ones over someone you’ve fallen in love with. It was April fifteenth, 2023, when I had fallen madly in love with this one boy. It felt like a dream come true, it was only a slight talk on the dance floor before he asked to dance.  I felt like a princess, and how he called me “beautiful like the night sky.”  He was always complimenting me until one cold night we were out, took a couple of drinks, and like the wise say, “drunk words are sober thoughts.”  Oh my,

-Don, San Diego  Some people say, “new year, new me,” a new year to do better things. Forget about the past year and go into the new year with things to achieve. Learn from the past year to complete your dreams.  Welcome to the new chapter. It’s a new year to become anything you want to be. Actor, poet, rapper. Look back on the past year and cry of laughter. Leave behind the negativity because now you have bigger responsibilities.  A different year, a new approach, you can’t go back to non-progressive activities. Wanting to better yourself than the past

-Margucci, San Francisco Grew up in the trenchesAll that shhh had shaped my mindSayin’ momma I’m a listenJust ‘cause I’m locked up doin’ timeKnowin’ I ain’t gone listenI said that shhh the last three timesWhat if shhh was different?Picture livin’ like you whiteImagine you got privilegeAnd two parents that can guideLivin’ in the burbsAin’t gotta watch nobody dieAnd now you can see college‘Cause you ain’t gotta slide‘Cause when you in the trenchesIf you ain’t on ten then you gone dieI’m sorry it’s not differentAnd what if shhh don’t matter?Keep yo’ cards on yo’ chestBe prudent and when approaching matterDo everything