Girl, Woman, Other Characters

– Eudoré is Captain Linnaeus Rydendale’s wife who was rumored to be Spanish. She’s the daughter of merchant Rydendale conducted business with in Jamaica. When Slim sees a picture of Eudoré decades later, he tells Hattie that he’s certain she was Black, and Hattie thinks he might be right.

Laverne is Dominique’s wife. A fellow survivor of domestic abuse, they met at a support group. They live in Los Angeles and parent their adopted twins.

Gaia is the woman who owns the Spirit Moon women’s commune where Dominque lives with Nzinga when they first move to the U.S. Gaia ultimately helps Dominique escape the commune and Nzinga’s abuse.

Cecilia is Dominique’s mother; she’s a Guyanese immigrant.

Wintley is Dominique’s father; he’s an Indo-Guyanese immigrant.

Dolores is Amma’s partner of seven years. They are in a polyamorous triad with Jackie. Dolores is white and a graphic designer.

Jackie is Amma’s partner of three years. They are in a polyamorous triad with Dolores. She is white and an occupational therapist.

Mabel, Olivine, Katrina, and Lakshmi are Amma’s close group of friends. Amma criticizes them for each having sold out in their own ways as they entered middle-age.

Georgie is Amma’s friend. Georgie struggles with substance abuse and dating. When he dies, likely by suicide, Amma feels guilty.

Curwen is Sylvester’s partner.

Kenny is Roland’s partner.

Moses is Bummi’s father who died while illegally refining oil in the Niger Delta. His family disowns Bummi and her mother, Iyatunde, after his death.

Aunty Ekio is Bummi’s distant cousin who takes her in after Iyatunde dies. She is a wealthy, mean, and demanding woman who makes Bummi work hard as her house-servant in exchange for housing and education.

Bishop Aderami Obi is the bishop of Bummi’s church who gives her a cash loan to start her cleaning business in exchange for sex.

Sister Omofe is one of the women who works for Bummi at her cleaning company. They become close friends and eventually share a passionate, secret love affair. Once Bummi ends things, Sister Omofe starts dating another woman from church, leaving Bummi jealous.

Kofi is a Ghanian man who worked for Bummi’s cleaning company and eventually becomes her long-term boyfriend.

Angie is LaTisha’s aunt who moves in to help Pauline after Glenmore abandons the family.

Jason is LaTisha’s 12-year-old son.

Jantelle is LaTisha’s 11-year-old daughter.

Dwight is the father of LaTisha’s first child, Jason.

Mark is the father of LaTisha’s second child, Jantelle.

Rachel is Shirley and Lennox’s daughter and Winsome’s granddaughter who, to her delight, takes interest in her life story.

Madison is Rachel’s daughter, Shirley’s granddaughter, and Winsome’s great-granddaughter.

Karen is Shirley and Lennox’s daughter and Winsome’s granddaughter.

Tony is Shirley’s brother and Winsome and Clovis’s son.

Errol is Shirley’s brother and Winsome and Clovis’s son.

Adam is Penelope’s son who moves to Texas after graduating from college. He never visits his mother. His father, Giles, is his favorite parent, because Giles paid for all his university expenses.

Mark is Morgan’s brother and Hattie’s great-grandson.

Edwin is Penelope’s father and Margaret’s wife. Edwin was a surveyor born in England; he lived his life according to a strict and predictable routine.

Jeremy is Penelope’s partner later in life. Penelope ignores Jeremy’s flaws, namely his sexism, to keep the peace and enjoy their life together.

Lennox's great aunt, who lives in Harlem. His parents send him to live with Aunt Myrtle while they get themselves establishes in the U.K. Aunt Myrtle stresses to Lennox that school and knowledge are the keys to building a better life, which is a lesson that he internalizes.