African American women experience father absence, at disproportionate rates. However, they are rarely studied or discussed outside of a comparative analysis. Hence, in this study, the purpose is to explore how father absence affects the educational attainment of African American women, post high school. The questions that guide this study include: What is the participants’ understanding of a strong black woman? How does father absence affect the educational attainment of African American women? How does father absence lead African American women to perform as a strong Black woman? This study uses a narrative approach, interviewing six African-American women, who have earned a bachelor’s degree, and experienced father absence.