Glinda Bridgforth - Girl, Get Your Money Straight: A Sisters Guide to Healing Your Bank Account and Funding Your Dreams in 7 Simple Steps

Contents

To my parents, Walter and Opal Bridgforth.
With love and appreciation.

Acknowledgments

It is very clear to me that were it not for being abundantly blessed, I would never have conceived of or completed Girl, Get Your Money Straight! For that, I am eternally grateful and give thanks to God. I also believe every person Ive ever crossed paths with has influenced my life in some way. They have all helped to make me the person I am, which enabled me to write this book. However, I am eternally grateful to some specific people:

To those whose support and encouragement led me to take on this project as they paved the way before me: Brenda K. Wade, Ph.D., Cheryl D. Broussard, Brooke M. Stephens, Gail Perry-Mason, Kelvin Boston, Fran Harris, George Fraser, Dr. Bertice Berry, Debrena Jackson Gandy, David Bach, and Maria Denise Dowd. A special acknowledgment to Karen McCall. Our early work together was an important part of my healing process. The time we spent together was encouraging, inspiring, and uplifting, and I was able to pull through some very rough times. A special thank-you to Susan L. Taylor, who has taught me more than shell ever know. Also, heartfelt thanks for giving me opportunities to share my knowledge and experience with Essence readers.

Thank you to the dynamic sisterfriends who reminded me how close I was to the finish line on the manuscript and for all the times they said no when I called to ask for permission to quit: Brenda J. Allen, Ph.D., Denise Barnes-Wiley, Dorothy Hood, Karen James, Jewel Kittell, Charmaine McClarie, Jwahir Moore, and Vivian Jenkins Vanderwerd. Thanks Lisa Patton for your encouragement, ongoing assistance, and for giving me the word straight. To my focus group participants for being such a great sounding board: Revola Austin, Wendy Fay Baines, Greer Collins, Sheila Griffie, Michelle Lewis, Sheila Thomas, Kimberly Winston, and Vaneese Johnson. And thanks to other friends who came through when I needed them: Rahman Batin, Benay Curtis-Bauer, Piper Douglas, Marjorie Grace, Harriet Y. Wright, Charles Motte, Jr., Timothy E. McDaniel, Ed Rau, Charles Rivers, Danita Rowden, and Joycelyn Thompson.

Many thanks to Bonnie Solow, my literary agent, who read the very early drafts of this book and continued to believe in me anyway. To Lauren Marino, executive editor at Broadway Books, who helped me see the greater vision. And to the wonderful editors who came to my rescue at various stages: Brenda Lane Richardson, Susan McHenry, and Mary Ellen Butler. A special thank-you to Ann Campbell, my extremely talented Broadway Books editor, whose energy and enthusiasm kept me writing when I felt there were no more creative thoughts or ideas in my body. And thanks to her assistant, Amanda K. Gross, who took good care of me during the entire process.

I lovingly give thanks to my family. My dad, Walter B. Bridgforth, who gave me the courage to venture out twenty-five years ago when he said, If things dont work out for you in California, you can always come home; to my mom, Opal Bridgforth, who inspired my book title when shed call me in California and greet me with an endearing, melodic, Hey, girl. It was always so special. Thank you to my sisters, who are beautiful and unbelievably generous: Barbara Norwood for being the first super-talented female I admired as she sang, played piano, and directed the choir at New Mt. Herman Baptist Church when she was still a teenager; Doris Saulsberry for being my role model for academic excellence and opening her home to me during the Kalamazoo years; Yvonne Morrison for her fabulous fashion sense and always keeping the boutique open for me; Paula Bridgforth for her selflessness and willingness to carry the ball (I really appreciate you!); and to my sister Ann Lewis for welcoming me with open arms and for the many years of loving support. To my brother, Walter B. Bridgforth, Jr., a special acknowledgment and thank-you for things too numerous to mention here. Hes the best man I ever met, and I know theres a place waiting for him in heaven.

Thank you to my sister-in-law, Anita Baker Bridgforth, for being the role model for talent, hard work, and success. Also for her support and guidance during times when I felt challenged by the creative process. To my brothers-in-law: Joe Lewis, for reminding me of my thin days; Robert Norwood, for the meanest greens Ive ever eaten; Van Morrison for the prayer by telephone which hes probably forgotten; and Darrell Saulsberry, for being such a great assistant at my Atlanta seminars. To my nieces, who are talented and smart: Sharon Bridgforth, Yvette Simpson, Kimberly Dart, Stephanie Saulsberry, Tracey Saulsberry, and Sonja Perryman. To my nephews-in-law, Victor Simpson and Elgin Dart, for the many positive words. Thank you to the youngest men in the family, who make me laugh and bring me incredible joy, my nephews, Lil Walt, Eddie, and Justin. Many thanks to my aunt, Shirley Moore, for opening her heart and her California home to me. To my cousins, Tracey Moore-Marable and Sheila Lavender, for all of the encouraging phone calls; to my Deacon Street surrogate parents, Callie Baker, Andrew and Mattie Fritz, Jack and Fannie Kennedy, the late Laura Cooper, Ethel Smith, and Florence Allison for fostering such a strong sense of community; and to my homegirls Jackie Kennedy, Joan Baker Hill, Andrea Fritz, Darlene Cooper Jordan, and Karen McCary Willis for over forty years of true friendship.

Finally, my sincere thanks to the many participants at my workshops, and a heartfelt thank-you to my clients, past and present, whom I love dearly. I value having the opportunity to work with you and am grateful that many of us have become wonderful friends. So, for all of those who kept asking, Hows the book coming? here it is. Enjoy.