Category: The Beat Without

by Rashaan Thomas I could have been Bill Gates. Well, I could have been a half Black and half Puerto Rican CEO of a software company the size of Microsoft or bigger. Bill Gates could have worked for me. Instead, I let hatred turn me into a killer. You see, my mother saw the future was computers. In the early eighties, she enrolled me in basic programming courses while I was still in high school. She also purchased the Commodore 64 computer. I put it to use programming and selling bootleg video games. Then my little brother got shot. It

by JJ Ramirez  If I was to be asked the question, “Are you ready to be released?” My answer would be that of, “Hell yeah!” Reasons being that I have learned so much of myself through my confinement I have fought my inner demons, which lived beneath my skin, and won. “Victorious.” First you must understand I grew up without a father “like so many behind these walls.” But I guess I can say without a mother as well. Mom always at work, so many hours I never really saw her. Used to come around on payday with a bag

by Kenneth Donaghe By now you have probably heard about S.B.260, “The Juvenile Lifers Bill.” This bill gives Juveniles a 2nd chance. I can be one of those Juveniles. I was recently found eligible for Parole after 22 years and four appearances before the Board. Since SB.260 became law, Juvenile Offenders have been paroled after their first appearance. Imagine that! This was unheard of before. Don’t misinterpret what I’m saying. The Parole Board will not just hand you freedom because you served the time. Not at all! You must stay out of trouble and show maturity. It was hard for me

by Darnell McGregge First, I want to say that I take full responsibility for murdering Ms. Washington and wounding Donald Sheppard.  In no way am I attempting to minimize what happened. I feel it’s important I share my story with you so it can help someone not to make the mistake that I made.  Again I take full responsibility for what Id did and I am really sorry! My mother was a single parent, and we lived in the Nickerson Garden Housing Projects in Watts.  I was the last of four children. Even though my mother did the best she could

by Ung Bang  At the age of sixteen I made the decision that would result in the deaths of two innocent human beings. I have agonized in prison for the past twenty-one years and would often wonder about the decision that I made that lead me to this destructive life style that I lived. It is still painful today when I do recall my childhood memories of being physically and emotionally abused at home and at school. How does a child deal with feelings of being unwanted, unloved, and abandoned by his own family and peers? Knowing nothing else I chose

by Todd Williams The benefits of education are undeniable in my eyes. As a child I was taught the importance of education. I saw the results of what education could do for an individual. I saw the benefits of education in my own home, in society and most of all in my life. Granted, this realization was not an instant one. Education has been my sanctuary, the place where I could go and feel safe, and find a degree of acceptance. My educational experience as a child, was what motivated me to explore higher education as an adult. Education has

by Eric Curtis My inner voice – Is there a voice in your head that speaks to you, that encourages you to go forward or warn you to slow down? For example, have your homies ever asked you to do something, but a voice in your head told you not to do it? Did you listen to that voice? If not, what happened? Where does that inner voice come from? Does that voice still talk to you even now? What does it say? For over an hour, Kevin was trying to talk James into breaking into someone’s house. James knew if

by Anthony “Aemys” Young  Where I went wrong in life, I made the choice to become a follower and be a part of a gang. I was always the type of person who didn’t care what the next person was doing, I did my own thing. When it came to school I loved it. I was a wonderful student, I also played sports basketball, football, and baseball. Through out my whole life gangs were always around me from family to friends but I always look passed that part of my life. I was born June 10th 1992 in Gardena, California, my

by Silent My name is Jesus C. I would like to first thank my family for getting me get through these hard times. Melianna, Anthoni, Jessie, Daddy’s coming home soon! I was introduced to The Beat by my brother Tolo who’s also a writer for The Beat. I’ve been in prison for a couple of years and I have two months left before I go home. It’s been a long rough road, but I’ve learned a lot and became well connected with myself. I’ve lost a lot, but me coming to prison was one of the best things that has

 by Tony Farrell “The Truth is Always the Best Argument” – Sophocles Who am I… I am but only one of thousands of people who was a child prosecuted as an adult – then sentenced to rot inside a living tomb until I die. My name is Tony Farrell, and I am fighting for my life. Just a chance to even experience what “life” is or may be. I could easily say that I was failed by the system. An under-privileged kid who fell through the cracks. But that would give the false impression my situation is an isolated case. The