Civic Cipher
Civic Cipher is a weekly radio show/podcast hosted by Ramses Ja and Q. Ward. This show is dedicated to empowering Black and Brown voices, allowing them to engage directly with their communities as well as the general population. Self-determination is critical to securing a future free of oppressive systems, and Civic Cipher exists to facilitate discussions toward this end. Furthermore, Civic Cipher seeks to inform non-POC allies who may not be privy to these types of discussions and optics. Finally, Civic Cipher seeks to provide long-form conversations in spaces where there is often a lack of significant resources, potent dialogue, or the necessary engagement for facilitating a healthy and productive civil discourse.Facebook/Instagram/Twitter: @civiccipher
Episodes
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 showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja
Consideration for today's show was provided by:
Major Threads menswear www.MajorThreads.com
Hip Hop Weekly Magazine www.hiphopweekly.com...
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 showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja
Consideration for today's show was provided by:
Major Threads menswear www.MajorThreads.com
...
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 showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja
Consideratio...
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 showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja
Consideratio...
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.
Support the showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @i...
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 showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja
Consideration for today's show was provided by:
Major Th...
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 showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja
Consideration for today'...
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 showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja
Consideration for today'...
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 purports itself to deem everyone equally under the law to be ‘...
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 showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja
Consideration for today's show was provided by:
Major Threads menswear www.MajorThreads.com
Hip Hop Weekly Magazine www.hiphopweekly.com
The Blac...
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 showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja
Consideration for today's show was provided by:
Major Thre...
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 showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja
Consideration for today's ...
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 showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja
Consideration for today's show was provided by:
Major Threads menswear www...
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 showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja
Con...
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 showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqwa...
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 showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja
Consideration for today&a...
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 showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja
Conside...
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 showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ram...
The second half we discuss code-switching or ‘talking White” as well as why Black people will sometimes switch up their dialect, cadence, tone, and even posture when interacting with White people or people in positions of authority. We give insight into this phenomenon and why it’s necessary for Black people to essentially be bilingual in America.
Support the showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja
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 showwww.civiccipher.com
Follow us: @CivicCipher @iamqward @ramsesja
Con...
Popular Podcasts
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
It’s a lighthearted nightmare in here, weirdos! Morbid is a true crime, creepy history and all things spooky podcast hosted by an autopsy technician and a hairstylist. Join us for a heavy dose of research with a dash of comedy thrown in for flavor.
My name is Jay Shetty, and my purpose is to make wisdom go viral. I’m fortunate to have fascinating conversations with the most insightful people in the world, and on my podcast, I’m sharing those conversation with you. New episodes Mondays and Fridays. Listen anywhere you get your podcasts, and please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy it. Live life today ON PURPOSE.