by Joel J. Baul May today’s presence find all of you well in spirit and health. The world outside this tomb is beating like that of a heart, yet as we know it’s falling apart! It saddens me to know that (Jim Crow and McCarthy’s) are no longer dormant? I can only hope with all that is manifesting itself, there is a unification of enlightenment to ensure we haven’t lost our way and that we acknowledge we do need each other more so in these times than we know: Life is fragile, so too is our reproach. The four poems enclosed
Continue ReadingNothing But The Truth
by DeeCee The Beat Within, lets youth express their Soul within, from emotional, physical, and sexual abuse they overcame, and refused to be another story on the six o’clock news. Beautiful transformations such as Black Boys so used to cocking glocks, becoming righteous cops and protecting everybody’s block.Proving change is possible, believe and you can achieve. The Beat Within, an outlet in this dry ass Hall, for the ones that have broken the law and are stuck between these confined walls.The extraordinary outcome when pencil meets paper, is as fresh as a taper. A voice for the silent, amplifying noise like
Continue Reading
Volume 20.03/04
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this latest issue.
Continue ReadingI Never Thought I’d Be a Felon
by Chuy In my hand, I had a gun. I thought I was having fun. It was a little odd That the cops were calling the house So I decided to run. To my surprise Four cops were waiting Three with guns pointed at me And the other with a K9. He gave me one chance To get on the ground Before he released the dog. I did as he told. I wasn’t trying to get bit. Two hours later I was in my cell Mad at myself For the life I am living. Because I chose to have it With
Continue ReadingBeneath The Surface of Baby Red
by Michael D. Johnson My name is Michael Dwayne Johnson and I am a thirty-six year old man incarcerated in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations. My convictions are first degree murder and second degree robbery and my crime is gang-related. I’ve been in prison since I was sixteen years old and I have served a total of twenty years and five months. That’s approximately seven thousand four hundred fifty days of hell and a whole lot of thinking, crying and begging God for mercy. However, this whole experience has taught me a few things; 1) The gang lifestyle
Continue Reading
Welcome to 2015! Volume 20.01/02
Our first issue of the new year. Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this latest issue.
Continue ReadingCounselor’s Corner
Wake Up by Ms. M. Wake up and listen to me. Stop following dead end streets. So dark light can’t be seen so cold tears sliding down your cheeks freeze. The blind leading the blind Going nowhere fast Bumping into brick walls and stepping on shattered glass. Wake up and listen to me. Stop following dead end streets, Selling death to your people in sheep’s clothing With crooked smiles and sharp teeth. Tearing down your brother with words. Hating traveling faster than the speed of sound, Consuming your thoughts and blackening your heart. Don’t you want to make it? Don’t
Continue ReadingHappy New Year’s Eve!
Hello all, We are honored that our friends over at The Crime Report have posted and have featured a wonderful and an important read from our publication. What a wonderful way to end the year with this must read… On behalf of The Beat Within we thank you for your support and friendship. Read and share… Happy New Years! See you in 2015!
Continue Reading
Volume 19.49/50 – 2014 year end issue!
From that one little night, Lives were changed. Decisions were made, And there was no going back. Thought people could be loyal, Held them at standards far too royal. Then the whole things started to foil. Got into a position you’d never be. Thought, “No way can’t happen to me!” But you couldn’t have been more wrong, This isn’t a movie or song. Things aren’t so simple. So now you’re stuck with what you have. Your situation is real bad, But it could be worse. What made you make the decisions you did? -Conner, San Francisco Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you
Continue ReadingThe San Quentin News
Hello all, We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Kid CAT – the juvenile lifers housed at SQSP. We had our initial workshop back in October and just recently our workshop was featured in the San Quentin News. Take a look at the link or the attachments. We are thrilled to include these important voices in The Beat Within. We will resume workshops in early 2015. Download
Continue Reading