Proverbs 31:The Virtuous Black Woman Vol.1: Proverbs 31 Series, #1

By Russel Blake

   "Proverbs 31: The Virtuous Black Woman Volume 1".  My book is significantly bonded to my passion for the empowerment, support, success and edification of Women.  Volume 1 is specifically for African, Caribbean and African-American Women.  Black Women represent a distinct and singular barometer of the state of our community. Historically, there acumen of nurturing and insightful acuity of wise understanding has inarguably saved the race. Modern times presents a Black Woman both academically educated and morally edified. Fueling the ranks of successful entrepreneurship, leadership in corporate America and the Presidencies of stabilized African nations.  My book globally speaks to Black men to acknowledge the priceless value/existence of the Black Woman, and to Black Women to assert their inalienable rights in deserving unwavering dignity, love and respect.  My goal is to be an effective catalyst and positive communicator in the way Black Men & Women (especially our youth) perceive the Women of our community.  Mission Statement: "If One Black Woman Is Thought To Be Expendable, Then Every Black Woman's Immeasurable Value Is Diminished In The Eyes Of The World".    

• Language: English
• Publisher: Man Of Psalms Publishing Co
• Release date: Jun 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201140724

Russel Blake

My name is Russel Blake.  I'm a Music Producer/Concert Soloist/Educator/Author.  Thus far I've been privileged to have Performed/Toured/Taught in 75 countries.   As a professional Bassist I've had the good fortune to have performed with a wide variety of Artists and situations.   From Sonny Rollins, Chaka Khan, Mary Mary, Cybil Shepherd, Tramaine Hawkins, Wynton Marsalis, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Paquito D' Rivera, Harry Belafonte, Brenda Russell, "The Lion King", "DreamGirls" & "Motown The Musical" on Broadway in NYC, Micah Stampley, Mary Wells, Pharoah Sanders, etc;... As a Concert Soloist and Educator I've been contracted to perform in 8 West African Nations as an Ambassador of Goodwill by the U.S. State Department as well as the State of California Department of Corrections to teach/perform my Music History & Cultural Program to 5000 inmates of Ironwood State Prison. I was also a Kellogg Foundation Artist In Residence Recipient to teach/perform said program to the Kalamazoo & Battle Creek Michigan school districts.  I've also taught as a Professor of Electrical Bass Studies at five universities across the country.   This is my first venture into the Literary world and I am looking forward to all that the journey entails.  

Book preview

PROVERBS 31: THE VIRTUOUS BLACK WOMAN VOL.1

By Russel Blake

Published By Man of Psalms Publishing Company

Copyright Russel Blake 2012 - 2021

My name is Russel Blake.  For over four decades I have earned a living as an Educator/Professional Musician/Concert Soloist/Music Producer.  To date I have performed/toured/taught in 75 countries on six continents not only as a Concert Soloist, but also as a bassist with some of the music industry’s high-profile talent.

As an Ordained Minister of the gospel of JESUS Christ, the unction of the Holy Spirit has placed upon me the charge of addressing an issue pertinent to the African, Caribbean/African-American community. 

In my opinion, the perception and treatment of African, Caribbean/African American Women is at best the long-standing root of our barometer of existence, and at the very least the heart of any discussion of constructive engagement for us to survive as a people. 

At no other time in history have Black Women faced such a daunting and challenging role of perception. Although the trans-Atlantic slave trade forced a juxtaposition upon her status from venerable Queens of antiquity to that of forced slave labor, this development was predicated by the wretchedness of others outside of her race (and some within) for the financial profit of a few. 

Today’s media technology beckons our human lens to witness indignities upon Black women undeserving, unwarranted and inhuman.  Whether consistently as victims of violence and rape on the continent of Africa or the injurious derogatory practice of sexual objectification in America, the global image of Black Women is under constant daily attack and erodes the dignity of there existence to those most vulnerable. 

I have authored a book entitled Proverbs 31: The Virtuous Black Woman.  The strength of the idea is to communicate the precious and priceless value/existence of Black Women to the minds of black men, the rights to be treated with unwavering respect and dignity in the minds of black women and the seeds of reverence to be sown by virtue of changing perception one community at a time. 

In closing, prisons in the United States in recent years have demonstrably increased in the population of men and women of African descent. Studies have proven that perception(s) of oneself and one’s community heavily determine the actions of the beholder.  My goal is to be an effective catalyst and positive communicator in the way Black men and women, (especially our youth) perceive the women of our community.

If one Black Woman is thought to be expendable, then every Black Women’s immeasurable value is now diminished in the eyes of the world...

Proverbs 31: THE VIRTUOUS BLACK WOMAN

Prologue: This work is inspired by, through and because of the Spirit of God that abides within me. It is a book of short stories, observations, acknowledgment spirituality and praises whose foundation are the Holy Scriptures utilizing Proverbs 31 as it’s central theme and based on the Virtuous Black Woman. 

This book is neither a proposition nor a premise that Black Women are morally or ethically superior to any other ethnicity for we are all God’s children.

As a proponent of observation and encouragement of Virtuous Women, I find these qualities of integrity are employed and found in Women of all ethnicities.  In these writings, for her indelible place of singularity throughout history and for having endured and overcoming hardships specifically indigenous unto her due to both her gender and her ethnicity, I honor the Virtuous Black Woman.  

I was very privileged to be gifted by God to have as my Mother Lurlean Henrietta Fearon Blake whose intellect, wisdom, knowledge, spirituality and moral worth was highly influential and awe inspiring in my life.  She never saw my mind parched for wisdom, nor mine heart for knowledge and understanding. 

She taught me the gift of prayer, the knowledge of God, the discipline of fiscal responsibility, the ways of a Gentleman to espouse a Lady and patiently endured my differing spiritual paths as a adolescent and was exceedingly integral in my edification as a young Man.  She died when I was only 22 years of age. 

This book is also dedicated to my Father Alexander Blake whose spiritually wise and insightful discernment first lead him unto my mother from which they enjoyed 35 wonderful years of marriage until her transition.  He taught me the value of a Virtuous Black Woman from a Man’s perspective and for this I am eternally grateful. 

My writings are in essence a dedication unto my mother for these priceless lessons of life as I would not be the Man that I am today were it not for her teachings.  As the first Woman in my life to exemplify and demonstrate qualities and attributes conducive to a Proverbs 31 Virtuous Woman, and as such this work is dedicated to her living Spirit and the Spirit of Virtuous Black Women everywhere. 

May God Continue To Nurture The Spirit, Nourish The Faith & Replenish The Strength Of Virtuous Black Women....In JESUS Name.

ABUNDANCE

Virtuous Black Woman; In a land bereft of ethical dignities, what morals that do remain are rationed among a few; To be unpretentious and faithful is a beautiful thing, yet to be both charitable and vigilant is greater; God is everywhere; In all things beautiful have mine eyes portioned themselves unto His divine presence;

In His mountains do I witness His majestic and indomitable power; In His seas I truthfully testify of the fidelity of His omniscience, while comprehending the omnipotent dominion of His creativity with all life contained therein; The nightly stars preview the glory of His sitting place while the rain forest speaks silently in a profound way of His walking presence in the morning mists;

Then there is you; Neither beguiled by mere flattery, nor driven by materiality do you exist before me; Your inner woman elegantly adorned with a merciful kindness akin to the continual gentle rain on a warm summer’s day; You are my beloved wife; My cherished woman sent from above; My divinely assigned helpmeet more priceless than rubies and more precious than gold;

Because of you, I am motivated in no small measure to create within myself a better Man, inspired to work in earnest to live a fuller life and encouraged through these efforts to the most favorable outcome;

You bring me joy; I am naturally inclined to guard your every step, open every door before you and to kneel in the proposition of holy matrimony with you; You bring me joy; I am neither fettered by sadness nor chained to discontent when you’re near; For within you are all of the virtuous attributes in quantity and quality that God ordained before the world began.

I trust God for your safety; For greater is He that is within you, than he that is in the world (1); I trust God for your success; For no weapon formed against you shall prosper (2); I trust God for your resiliency; For if God is for you, who can be against you (3); I trust God for our unbreakable bond of love; For whom God hath brought together, let no one put asunder (4); You are my love personified by God through affirmation; You are my love from God as testified by His Holy Word; You are my love in God, for I am influenced by your example; You are my love because of God through grace and mercy, desire and destiny, patient prayer and God’s loving-kindness in Abundance; 

Scriptural References

1)Ye are of God little children and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world. I John 4:4

1)  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. Isaiah 54:17

2)  What shall we then say