Civic Cipher

Send us a Text Message. For today’s show, we are discussing two sides of the same coin. In the first half of the show, we talk about how quickly things can become problematic when we skip out on local and midterm elections. We are joined by AZ state congressional candidate Jevin Hodge who helps us break things down.  Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja...

Send us a Text Message. In the second half of the show, we examine the other side of the coin and highlight some of the progressive, inclusive, and forward-thinking things that have taken place as a direct result of local voting initiatives. Jevin Hodge remains our guest as we discuss an unlikely friendship between Jessie Owens and Nazi Germany-era athlete for our Way Black History Fact. Support t...

Send us a Text Message. In the first half of the show, we talk about this past week’s indictment of the former president and the fallout and aftermath of that proceeding.  Forgive us...we kinda had to! Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Consideration for today's show was provided by: Major Threads menswear www. MajorThreads.com Hip Hop Weekly Mag...

Send us a Text Message. In the second half of the show, we shed light on some notable recent events that showcase the double-standard that Black and other marginalized people live with in American society. We discuss the criticism experienced by Angel Reese after winning the NCAA Championship as the lead story for this half of the show. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher...

Send us a Text Message. In the first half of the show, we discuss the actual heroism seen from the body cam footage from the responding officers at this week’s school shooting in Nashville. We contrast this behavior with what we have come to know as ‘normal’ behavior based in fear and cowardice so as to highlight what we expect from the officers tasked with protecting our communities. Support the...

Send us a Text Message. In the second half of the show, we delve into the questions surrounding the Nashville shooting and dissect the conservative attempts at rebranding the incident as an act of terrorism against Christianity. Our Way Black History Fact details the first arrest of a sitting U.S. President by an ex-slave. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ra...

Send us a Text Message. In the first half of the show, we take back the term “woke” by defining it properly for everyone and by examining the attacks against the term and the people associated with it. We shout out Gayle King for our Ebony Excellence segment. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Consideration for today's show was provided by: Major...

Send us a Text Message. In the second half of the show, we discuss Florida’s H.B. 999 / S.B. 266 and the attacks on education and educators in the state. Our Way Black History Fact tells the story of Kalief Browder. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Consideration for today's show was provided by: Major Threads menswear www. MajorThreads.com Hip...

Send us a Text Message. We were recently asked ‘What is Allyship and why is it important?’ This question sparked a stream of consciousness that we tried to capture in today’s episode. Often many folks consider themselves to be allies or are trying to learn and do more, but we break down our thoughts on what this means and just how far allyship can go!  Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow...

Send us a Text Message. We were recently asked ‘What is allyship and why is it important?’ This question sparked a stream of consciousness that we tried to capture in today’s episode. Often many folks consider themselves to be allies or are trying to learn and do more, but we break down our thoughts on what this means and just how far allyship can go!  Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow...

Send us a Text Message. The first part of today’s show deals with the comments made by the creator of the Dilbert comic strip who suggested that White people should “get the hell away from Black people!” We dig a bit deeper to find the source of his discontent and examine how that came to be. We also share some thoughts on how you can challenge this argumentative framework in your own life. Suppor...

Send us a Text Message. The second part of the show is dedicated to educating you about the Republican nominees for the presidential race in 2024. We discuss some of their platforms, plans, and how they relate to each other. Our Way Black History Fact covers the MOVE bombing in Philadelphia in 1985. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Consideration for...

Send us a Text Message. The first and second halves of today’s show are a recap of our recent visit to Washington D.C. to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In short, it was incredible! Also, discussed is our visit to Norfolk State University, and a spotlight of Benjamin Banneker on our Way Black History Fact! Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher...

Send us a Text Message. The first and second halves of today’s show are a recap of our recent visit to Washington D.C. to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. In short, it was incredible! Also, discussed is our visit to Norfolk State University, and a spotlight of Benjamin Banneker on our Way Black History Fact! Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher...

Send us a Text Message. In the first half of today’s show, we cover some recent news stories that we feel might be overlooked by mainstream media and give our thoughts on how they impact our realities. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Consideration for today's show was provided by: Major Threads menswear www. MajorThreads.com Hip Hop Weekly Mag...

Send us a Text Message. In the second half of the show, we review some of the points made by a report called Race and Wrongful Convictions in the U.S. 2022 from the law school at the University of Michigan. In reviewing cases where people have been exonerated for crimes they didn’t commit; we look at the disproportionate amount of Black people who are affected by a criminal justice system that pur...

Send us a Text Message. In the first half of today’s show, we discuss the many accomplishments of Black Americans that have made the news in recent weeks! We take a break from the norm to highlight some of the trailblazers and history makers to show that we aren’t just victims of police shootings. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Consideration for t...

Send us a Text Message. In the second half of the show, we discuss a mental framework known as Standpoint Theory. This theory suggests that we understand that we can only thoroughly articulate the perspectives we have witnessed firsthand. Our Way Black History Fact is dedicated to the first Rosa Parks…named Elizabeth Jennings Graham. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @i...

Send us a Text Message. In the first half of today’s show, we tell a foundational story of how we were pulled over in 2020 in Mississippi, harassed, profiled, and humiliated by law enforcement only to be released after no usable evidence was able to be procured and used against us. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Consideration for today's show...

Send us a Text Message. In the second half of the show, we finish the story of us getting pulled over and draw some parallels to a significant amount of police interactions with Black and Brown people. We make a case that the system in place benefits White people in society more than everyone else and often comes at the expense of those of us who are non-White. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.co...

Send us a Text Message. In the first half of today’s show, we look at some recent instances of police violence and try to identify how ‘reform’ never seems to work. One instance of an officer punching a Black woman in the face at a McDonalds, and another where 5 Black officers needlessly ended the life of a young Black man gives us a framework to ask this critically important question. Support the...

Send us a Text Message. In the second half of the show, we discuss the response from the Florida Board of Education / Ron DeSantis after examining a potential AP course on Black history in the United States. Their response stating that the course “lacks educational value” provoked a strong reaction from Black people, educators, and us too. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCip...

Send us a Text Message. Today we look back on last week's holiday for Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and cite several examples of conservative hypocrisy. Many on the right use bits and pieces of Dr. King's legacy and quotes to gain clout and give the appearance of brother/sisterhood when, in fact their policies stand in direct contrast to what Dr. King stood for.  Support the Show....

Send us a Text Message. In the second half of the show, we discuss the viral interaction of police and Keenan Anderson which led to his death. We describe the video, the triggers, and naturally, the aftermath. We also spend some time reviewing one of Dr. Martin Luther King's letters and charge everyone with doing more research into the great reverend.  Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Fo...

Send us a Text Message. Today’s episode we discuss the bias that is found in some far-right conservative circles and pockets of the internet that suggest that White people are intellectually superior to Black people. We examine the origins of this myth, explain how dangerous and divisive it can be, and remind you to look beyond the numbers published in reports. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.co...