Black Girls Must Die Exhausted: A Novel

Tabitha (Tabby) Walker is the novel’s protagonist and narrator, and all significant themes develop around her conflicts and interactions with other characters. As a 33-year-old television journalist for KVTV, Tabby is ambitious and determined, and she wants to earn the evening anchor position at her station. To maximize her chances at professional success, Tabby spends significant time on her hair and makeup, though she wishes that she could wear her curly hair naturally. She also harbors insecurities at work that prevent her from asserting her perspective too firmly. Learning to stand her ground and to demand that her voice be heard prove to be integral evolutions in Tabby’s character development.

Tabby loves her family, though her relationships with her divorced parents, Paul and Jeanie, are complex and problematic. After her father’s infidelity, he divorced Tabby’s mother and spent less time with Tabby while having more children with his new wife, Diane. The multiracial family also includes Granny Tab—Paul’s mother—whom all family members idolize. Because she is Tabby’s namesake, Granny Tab affectionately refers to Tabby as “Two.” Tabby feels more comfortable being herself around Granny Tab than any other person.