Introduction: The Past That Haunts Us
Today, as we observe the fifth day of Black History Month, we reflect on the struggles and triumphs of a people who have faced oppression, forced transformation, and systemic attempts to erase their identity—yet have always found a way to rise, reclaim, and redefine themselves.
History has shown us that some of the greatest battles we face are not just physical but psychological and spiritual. Whether in real-world history or in the fictional struggles of S.O.L.A.D.™: Soldiers of Light Against Darkness™, the fight against oppression is often a battle against forces that seek to strip us of our identity, our will, and our future.
This week’s Reed’s Reads of Wisdom Wednesdays draws inspiration from Book I of S.O.L.A.D.™: Chapter 14: “Monstrosities” and connects it to the ongoing resilience of Black people throughout history. In this chapter, Juanita Grayson (Angeline) learns the horrifying truth about the missing children of the villages—they have been stolen, manipulated, and transformed into something unrecognizable by dark forces. This painful revelation echoes real historical injustices, where people were forcibly taken, stripped of their identities, and turned into something they never intended to be.
But the lesson of both history and S.O.L.A.D.™ is this: we are more than what oppression tries to make us. And we must reclaim our identities, our purpose, and our future.
Monstrosities—A Reflection on Oppression
As Juanita (Angeline) lands at Wiseman J’s house, she delivers devastating news: Jeff, their ally, has been taken and corrupted by a powerful demon named Temptation. This chapter forces us to confront an unsettling reality: monstrosities are not always created by choice. Sometimes, they are made through force, manipulation, and the stripping away of identity.
Throughout history, Black individuals and communities have faced similar attempts at dehumanization:
The Transatlantic Slave Trade sought to strip enslaved Africans of their identities, cultures, and histories, turning them into “property” rather than people.
Jim Crow laws and systemic racism attempted to create a second-class citizenry, robbing Black individuals of their rights and dignity.
The Prison Industrial Complex disproportionately incarcerates Black individuals, turning them into numbers in a system designed to break rather than rehabilitate.
Yet, despite all of this, we have always reclaimed our humanity—just as Juanita and her allies refuse to give up on Jeff.
Forced Transformation and the Struggle to Remember Who We Are
When Juanita hears that Jeff has been taken, changed, and used to kidnap children, she does not immediately accept that he is lost forever. She knows that something—someone—inside him still remains.
This mirrors the resilience of Black history. Despite every attempt to erase our cultures, traditions, and identities, Black people across the diaspora have continued to reclaim their heritage. From Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass escaping slavery and fighting for freedom, to the Harlem Renaissance reviving Black art, music, and literature, to the Civil Rights Movement refusing to accept oppression as the status quo—we have never allowed the world to redefine who we are.
Juanita’s determination to save Jeff rather than destroy him reminds us of this critical lesson: just because the world tries to turn you into something else doesn’t mean you must stay that way.
Facing the "Monstrosities" of Today
The title of this chapter—Monstrosities—forces us to ask an uncomfortable question: What does it mean to become a “monster” in the eyes of the world?
In Black history, we have seen how systemic racism has wrongfully labeled Black individuals as threats, criminals, and dangers to society. Consider how:
Nat Turner, who led a rebellion against slavery, was labeled a "monster" by white slaveholders, though he was fighting for freedom.
Malcolm X, before finding peace through faith, was once seen as a threat because he spoke truth to power.
Angela Davis, a revolutionary thinker, was placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list simply for standing against injustice.
Juanita’s confrontation with the demonic forces who have transformed Jeff mirrors how society often tries to paint people as "monstrous" when they refuse to conform to oppression.
But history teaches us a different truth: those who fight for justice are not monsters—they are warriors.
Breaking the Chains—Reclaiming Freedom
One of the most powerful moments in Monstrosities is when Juanita refuses to accept that Jeff is truly lost. She is determined to fight for his soul, his identity, and his freedom.
This moment is symbolic of the continued fight for freedom and justice in Black history:
The Underground Railroad was built on the belief that no enslaved person was beyond saving.
Reconstruction was an attempt to rebuild and reclaim what had been stolen.
The Black Lives Matter Movement is a modern fight to break the chains of systemic racism and reclaim dignity.
Just as Juanita believes Jeff’s true self is still inside him, Black leaders throughout history have believed that freedom and justice are always worth fighting for—no matter how dark the circumstances.
Lessons from “Monstrosities” for Black History Month
1. Identity Is Powerful—And Must Be Protected
Oppressors have always tried to erase identity, but history shows that those who reclaim their heritage become unstoppable. From the revival of African culture through the Black Arts Movement to the reclamation of names stolen by slavery, the past reminds us: who we are is worth protecting.
📖 Isaiah 61:1 (NKJV):"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."
2. Just Because the World Calls You a Monster Doesn’t Mean You Are One
History has repeatedly labeled freedom fighters, abolitionists, and revolutionaries as threats, but their impact has shaped the world for the better. Do not let the world define you.
📖 Romans 12:2 (NKJV):"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
3. Freedom Must Be Fought For
Like Juanita fighting to save Jeff, history teaches us that freedom is never given—it must be claimed. From Harriet Tubman leading hundreds to freedom to modern-day activists fighting for civil rights, the fight is ongoing.
📖 Galatians 5:1 (NKJV):"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."
Final Reflection: Who Will You Choose to Be?
The chapter Monstrosities reminds us that the fight for identity, freedom, and justice is ongoing. Just as Juanita refuses to let Jeff be lost to darkness, we must refuse to let oppression define our history, our present, or our future.
So ask yourself:
Are you allowing the world to redefine you?
Are you fighting for justice, or accepting the way things are?
How can you reclaim your identity, your purpose, and your future?
📖 John 8:32 (NKJV):"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
🔥 Continue the Fight—Read More in S.O.L.A.D.™! 🔥
The battle against darkness, oppression, and the forces that seek to rewrite history is not just a fictional story—it is a reality that has been faced for generations. S.O.L.A.D.™: Soldiers of Light Against Darkness™ is more than an action-packed novel—it is a journey of resilience, purpose, and the eternal fight between good and evil.
In Chapter 14: Monstrosities, Juanita Grayson faces an unthinkable truth—one of her closest allies has been taken and twisted into something unrecognizable. But rather than surrendering to despair, she chooses to fight, to seek answers, and to reclaim what has been stolen.
Her struggle mirrors the real-life battles of those who have been forcibly taken, manipulated, or oppressed throughout history. The message of S.O.L.A.D.™ is clear:
Your past does not define you.
Oppression cannot erase your identity.
The fight for justice is always worth it.
If today’s Reed’s Reads of Wisdom Wednesdays has inspired you, dive deeper into the world of S.O.L.A.D.™—where battles are fought not just with fists, but with faith, wisdom, and unshakable resolve.
🔥 Get your autographed copy of S.O.L.A.D.™: Soldiers of Light Against Darkness™ today!📖 Order now at: www.tyronetonyreedjr.com/the-shop
🌟 Join the fight. Reclaim your identity. Walk in the Light. 🌟
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