Reed's Reads of Wisdom Wednesdays: Speaking Evil – The Power of Words and the War for Truth

On this 9th day of International Black Women’s History Month, we reflect on one of the most dangerous forces in our lives and society—words.

Words can uplift, but they can also wound. They can liberate, or they can imprison. They can heal, or they can destroy.

In Chapter 3 of Book II of S.O.L.A.D.™, “Speaking Evil,” we are reminded that evil doesn’t always come in the form of physical violence. Sometimes, it moves through rumors, lies, slander, and manipulation.

This week’s post is dedicated to the Black women who have survived and transcended the impact of harmful words—whether from media, the workplace, religious spaces, family, or even other women. Their endurance is not just admirable; it is divine.

Chapter 3 Overview: Speaking Evil in the Spiritual and Social Realm

This chapter opens with an eerie stillness. The spiritual realm is thick with tension. Kevin and Juanita begin to detect how their presence as Angelo™ and Angeline™: Soldiers of Light Against Darkness™ stirs the demonic atmosphere around them. But more than that, they sense how words have already paved the way for darkness to spread.

A distorted news broadcast spreads misinformation about the team. False reports fuel fear in the public. Character assassination becomes a tactic of spiritual warfare. And while this chaos unfolds, whispers travel faster than facts. The characters don’t just feel opposition—they feel misrepresentation.

And that’s where the lesson sharpens.

Evil speech isn’t just spoken—it is strategized.

We see that demons exploit gossip, slander, and fear-mongering to stir division and cloud truth. Kevin and Juanita quickly learn that the war isn’t just physical or supernatural—it is informational. A war for the narrative.

That war is familiar to Black women.

The Power of the Tongue: Life or Death

📖 Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) — “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Black women have often been the targets of damaging narratives:

• Labeled as angry when passionate.

• Called too loud when simply leading.

• Criticized for confidence, condemned for boundaries.

But despite these attacks, Black women rise. They speak back. They reclaim their stories. They turn every lie into fuel for purpose.

Just as Kevin and Juanita (Angelo and Angeline) must learn to discern truth from deception in the spirit, Black women have had to do the same in their lived experiences—learning to filter every accusation through the lens of truth and identity.

When Evil Words Come from Familiar Places

Sometimes, it’s not the stranger who wounds us most—it’s the friend, the family member, the community, or the system we trusted.

Chapter 3 confronts this dynamic. Evil speech doesn’t always sound evil. Sometimes it sounds familiar. Sometimes it masquerades as concern, gossip, or even spiritual correction.

But if its fruit is fear, shame, or division, it’s not from God.

📖 James 3:10-11 (NKJV) — “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?”

Juanita’s journey mirrors that of many Black women: learning to discern when to respond, when to remain silent, and when to speak truth that dismantles lies.

Historical Harm: Black Women and the Battle of Reputation

From slavery to civil rights, from the media to the pulpit, Black women have consistently had to fight for their voice, their truth, and their image.

• Sojourner Truth had to literally declare “Ain’t I a Woman?” just to assert her full humanity.

• Michelle Obama was called “angry” and “intimidating” even as she stood with grace.

• Anita Hill endured national scrutiny for daring to speak out.

• Serena Williams was vilified for her passion and physique.

Each of these women endured speaking evil, and yet they refused to be silenced.

Their stories live in the same spirit as Chapter 3:

Evil words may echo for a moment, but truth is eternal.

When You’ve Been Misunderstood or Maligned

If you’ve ever been:

• Lied on

• Laughed at

• Dismissed

• Doubted

• Publicly shamed

This chapter—and this moment—is for you.

Let today be a reminder: You are not what they said. You are what God spoke over you.

📖 Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV) — “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord...”

Evil words may be spoken—but they don’t have the final say.

Breaking the Cycle: Refusing to Speak Evil Ourselves

Let’s be honest: hurt people can hurt people.

Sometimes, we become so conditioned by gossip, criticism, and slander that we repeat the cycle. But as women of faith and purpose, we are called higher.

We are called to:

• Speak life.

• Speak truth.

• Speak healing.

Even when it’s hard. Even when they don’t deserve it. Even when no one else is doing it.

📖 Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV) — “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

Modern Examples of Black Women Speaking Truth Against Evil

• Tarana Burke — Founder of the #MeToo movement, dismantling the silence around abuse.

• Brittney Cooper — Scholar and author unafraid to confront systemic racism and sexism with intellectual fire.

• Amanda Gorman — Poet who redefined patriotism through prophecy.

• Bishop Vashti McKenzie — First female bishop in the AME Church, silencing critics with legacy.

These women prove that you can speak truth without speaking evil—and when you do, the world shifts.

Affirmation for Today

“I am not what was said about me. I am what God says about me. I break agreement with every lie, label, and limitation. My voice is anointed, and my words carry life.”

To the Woman Who’s Been Wounded by Words

You are not alone. You are not forgotten. You are not finished.

Let every word ever spoken against you be overturned by grace. Let every lie be replaced with truth. Let every curse be broken by your calling.

You are not here to repeat evil—you are here to redeem it.

Like Juanita in Chapter 3, may you come out wiser, stronger, and more discerning.

🔥 Continue the Journey—Read More in S.O.L.A.D.™ Book II 🔥

Chapter 3 is a battle cry for truth speakers and lie breakers. Read more and rise in your purpose.

📖 Order your autographed copy today: 🔗 www.tyronetonyreedjr.com/the-shop

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