Send us a Text Message. In the second part of the show, we discuss the phrase, “I’m not racist…I have a Black friend!” We peel away some of the layers to this often surface-level argument and try to encourage searching for deeper truths that have more to do with a whole race of people rather than just one Black friend. We also use our Way Black History Fact segment to discuss Yoga’s roots in Africa. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Consideration f...
Jan 15, 2022•34 min
Send us a Text Message. The first part of today’s episode is dedicated to examining the so-called ‘progress reports’ from the cities who have defunded their police. We look at some of the misinformation, fear-mongering, and half truths that make for sensational headlines but fail to tell the full story. 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 Magazi...
Jan 15, 2022•25 min
Send us a Text Message. For the second half, we examine unfair prison sentencing for Black and Brown people in this country. We have some recent examples of judges showing extreme biases or outright racism, as well as other recent examples of how wildly the justice system can swing…and just how unfair it is. Later in the program, we discuss the origins of Black History Month in our Way Black History Fact! Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Considera...
Jan 08, 2022•34 min
Send us a Text Message. The first half of today’s episode focuses on a question posed to writer Ke’Aun Charles; “Could you tell me anything whatsoever that the Democratic party has done for Black people in the last 20 years?” We take inspiration from his response to offer some insight into why Black people largely vote Democratic in this country…it’s not really that complicated especially once the alternative is considered. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward ...
Jan 08, 2022•25 min
Send us a Text Message. In the second part of our New Year's Day episode, we continue the theme of looking at some of the positive outcomes from 2021! In this half, we discuss the outcomes or progress of discussions surrounding CRT, voting rights initiatives, the Stop Asian Hate movement, and the results of the incident on ASU's campus and their multicultural center. Our Way Black History Fact focuses on Sojourner Truth. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ra...
Jan 01, 2022•34 min
Send us a Text Message. In today's episode, we discuss some of the progress we have seen over the past calendar year. In the first half of the show, we discuss the many high-profile trials and the favorable outcomes we have seen. We also discuss Juneteenth becoming a national holiday as well as some unlikely fans we seem to have gotten! Our Ebony Excellence goes out to a young man named Chidiebere Ibe. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Consideratio...
Jan 01, 2022•25 min
Send us a Text Message. In the second half of our Christmas show, we discuss Culture Vultures. We recognize that there is a lot of shared culture in this country, and we simply try to give some guidelines so that lines aren’t so easily crossed and that we are more often honoring parts of each other’s cultures rather than simply taking from them. Our Way Black History Fact discusses the ethnic origins of Saint Nicholas. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @rams...
Dec 25, 2021•33 min
Send us a Text Message. Merry Christmas! Today, we decided to use the first half of the show to discuss the history of Blackface and why it is offensive to Black people. There is a lot tied up in the legacy of Black characters in show business that we spend a good amount of time addressing and unpacking. We also dedicate our Ebony Excellence segment to the life of Bell Hooks. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Consideration for today's show was prov...
Dec 25, 2021•26 min
Send us a Text Message. In the second half of today's show, we peel back some of the layers that led to the death of Daunte Wright as well as the demise of Officer Kim Potter. After a brief debate as to whether or not culpability or negligence will affect the outcome, of the trial we examine the system beyond the officer and make connections to the loss of Daunte Wright's life. We also tell the story of Emmett Till for our Way Black History Fact. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: ...
Dec 18, 2021•34 min
Send us a Text Message. In the first half of today's show, we examine some of the points made by popular stand-up comedian Michael Che. From his feelings upon seeing the American flag, to only loving certain parts of the country, he gives a humorous and somewhat accurate look into the Black experience in this country. We naturally felt like some of his topics could stand to be fleshed out a bit more, and we couldn't wait to discuss them here! Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @Civ...
Dec 18, 2021•25 min
Send us a Text Message. In the second half of today's show, we discuss several examples of police bullying or otherwise failing to meet the callings of their oaths. We had many examples to choose from this week and all of them felt important, but bullying underscored them all. With qualified immunity, the blue wall of silence, and no real repercussions for abuse, examples like these are innumerable and it felt like we should view this through a larger lens rather than just focusing on one exampl...
Dec 11, 2021•34 min
Send us a Text Message. In the first half of today's episode, we discuss a national story about a Black couple who received an appraisal on their home...only to have it increased by nearly a half-million dollars when they got a White couple to stand in for them. We also discuss how this and other things affect Black wealth or lack thereof. Furthermore, we share examples of our own where whitewashing was what we felt we had to do in order to be treated fairly. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.co...
Dec 11, 2021•25 min
Send us a Text Message. In the second part of today's episode, we revisit last week's topic about the Rittenhouse verdict to make sure we acknowledge a few minor things that we missed. We also took the time to acknowledge that the world is changing and how alarming that must be for White folks...men in particular. We also make it a point to hold our ground with respect to the stance the program takes in response to White supremacy and White supremacist institutions. For our Way Black History Fac...
Dec 04, 2021•34 min
Send us a Text Message. In the first half of today's show, we discuss Islamophobic comments made by Lauren Boebert which have been deemed offensive by Muslim-Americans. We also make the connection from trumpism to behaviors like this which have become more commonplace in recent years. In this segment, we also recognize Barbados and Rihanna for our Ebony Excellence. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Consideration for today's show was provided by: Ma...
Dec 04, 2021•25 min
Send us a Text Message. In the second half of today's show, we discuss the verdict handed down in the trial of the killers of Ahmaud Arbery. We make several comparisons to the trail of Kyle Rittenhouse and how loosely "self-defense" was used in the trial. We also examine the legacy of policing in this country with our Way Black History Fact. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Consideration for today's show was provided by: Major Threads menswear www...
Nov 27, 2021•34 min
Send us a Text Message. In the first part of today's episode, we discuss the Rittenhouse verdict and what it means for the allies of Black and Brown people. We hold a critical examination of the judge in the trial as well as the optics from conservatives. We try to make sense of the inconsistencies in the logic behind the "self-defense" cry from 2nd amendment supporters as well. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Consideration for today's show was p...
Nov 27, 2021•25 min
Send us a Text Message. In the second half of the show, we revisit a story about some recent guests (Sarra, Mimi, and Mastaani) and their current standing with ASU. We also discuss the eroding support for the BLM movement and what it means to really keep that energy. Alexandre Dumas is the person we highlight for our Way Black History Fact considering that while he is well known for his works such as The Three Musketeers, and The Count of Monte Cristo, it is a lesser known fact that he was Black...
Nov 20, 2021•34 min
Send us a Text Message. The first half of today’s show we discuss an incident where an officer shot some dogs and (because of a court order) was subsequently unable to hide behind Qualified Immunity. Naturally we make comparisons to Black and Brown people who are seldom afforded such consideration. We also take a moment to give Erin Jackson who took first place in the women’s 500m speed skating race her flowers. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Co...
Nov 20, 2021•25 min
Send us a Text Message. Philadelphia passed a bill banning minor traffic stops and we examine the optics and potential outcomes of dialing back what has historically been categorized as harassment against Black and Brown communities. Our Way Black History Fact focuses on the first systematic attempt to provide a form of reparations to newly-freed slaves--40 Acres and a Mule. Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Consideration for today's show was provi...
Nov 13, 2021•34 min
Send us a Text Message. In the first half of today's show, we discuss some foods typically associated with Black Americans--specifically watermelon. There is a sad and well-documented history of prejudice and anti-Black sentiment associated with the food that still finds its way into Black life today. We share some examples of this in hopes of preventing some social faux pas! Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Consideration for today's show was prov...
Nov 13, 2021•25 min
Send us a Text Message. In the second half of this week's show, we talk about the significant divide that exists where theoretically none should. We discuss the history of the Black church and the historical desire of some White churches to remain segregated in the Lord's house. Our Way Black History Fact we discuss the first African American female pilot Bessie Coleman and her inspiring story! Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja Consideration for to...
Nov 06, 2021•34 min
Send us a Text Message. In the first installment of this week's episode, we take some Ebony Excellence time to honor Maya Angelou and several other influential women who will be appearing on the Quarter starting next year. We then take some time to discuss how some Black people are still hesitant to get vaccinated, how the overall numbers for Black people getting vaccinated have improved, and how some folks are still victims of their own "research." Support the Show. www.civiccipher.com Follow u...
Nov 06, 2021•25 min
Send us a Text Message. Today's episode is about race relations--specifically between Asian Americans and African Americans. Our guest, Leezah Sun is a politician of Chinese descent who is passionate about building stronger community ties between these groups. In our discussions, we broach the subject of the Model Minority Myth, factors that contributed to the degradation of these two communities, and things we can all do regardless of race that will ultimately support and empower our AAPI broth...
Oct 30, 2021•59 min
Send us a Text Message. In today's episode, we are joined by former educator Dr. Camilla Westenberg whose claim to fame is being the first person to create an accredited Hip Hop literature class at the community college level. With so much being said about Critical Race Theory being taught in schools, it felt right to have a decades-long educator with us for this deep dive into CRT. We discuss exactly what it is, the concerns surrounding it, and what difference it could make in the lives of our ...
Oct 23, 2021•59 min
Send us a Text Message. Our guest today is Queen YoNasDa LoneWolf..national activist, author, and community organizer! In today's conversation, we discuss the Indigenous Peoples Movement, her activism with respect to offsetting voter suppression initiatives that disenfranchise indigenous communities, as well as the high numbers missing native women. We also take the time to give proper context for the establishment of Indigenous People's Day during our Way Black History Fact. Before ending the p...
Oct 16, 2021•59 min
Send us a Text Message. Today we discussed the oft-practiced "ready-fire-aim" approach used by police. We examine what it means to be a public servant/peace officer, and how when officers fall short of this, people sometimes pay with their lives. The example we use in today's episode is from Idaho Springs, CO where a deaf man Brady Mistic was beaten, arrested, and imprisoned by officers for not complying with orders (again, he is deaf). We also ask the question "How young should a child be befor...
Oct 06, 2021•59 min
Send us a Text Message. You may have seen the viral video of the confrontation at Arizona State University's multicultural center between some non-White students and some White students with an anti-Biden shirt and a "Police Lives Matter" laptop sticker. This video has been shared on right-wing media as an example of anti-Whiteness or reverse racism with even Marjorie Taylor Greene commenting about it. Well on this week's episode, the 3 women of color all sat down on Civic Cipher to discuss the ...
Oct 02, 2021•59 min
Send us a Text Message. Today's episode discusses the Oregon School District that banned BLM and LGBTQ clothing and signage a few months ago. They are now making headlines because their students were involved in a Snapchat-based mock slave auction where students discussed prices they would pay for their Black classmates. We also discuss whether or not the NFL should continue to play the Black National Anthem (Lift Every Voice and Sing) in addition to playing the National Anthem. For our Way Blac...
Sep 29, 2021•59 min
Send us a Text Message. In today's episode, we discuss what is sometimes referred to as "the Black face of White supremacy." We discuss Larry Elder, Candace Owens, and other prominent, far-right Black personalities and their role in establishing and maintaining a narrative that allows many conservative and moderate White people to leave their prejudices unchecked. We also hold a critical examination of the murder of Kawasaki Trawick who was murdered by the NYPD in 2019. Because the footage was f...
Sep 18, 2021•59 min
Send us a Text Message. We are 1-year old! Today we decided to look back at some of the more positive outcomes of stories we've discussed during our first year on air! Naturally, we looked at the Derek Chauvin verdict and the Biden/Harris election, but we also took time to discuss the unexpected outcomes of the Elijah McClain story from Aurora Colorado, the massive donations to HBCU institutions by Mackenzie Scott, and the New Black Wall Street in Georgia. Above all else, we appreciate all of ou...
Sep 11, 2021•59 min
