This essay explores the implications of exceptionalism on the lives of Black women. More specifically, it seeks to uncover how being labeled exceptional or brilliant, if not done with intention, can have harrowing effects on the academic and professional lives of Black women. Guided by parent racial socialization and academic identity development theories, Black women who were labeled exceptional in earlier years often have a commonality of experiences and mental models: excellence being synonymous with perseverance, intelligence being synonymous with work ethic, and feelings of invisibility. Black women collegiate students (and Black girls, generally) who struggle through navigating their academic identity are likely to become Black women scholars who are navigating the same. This work will shed light on the complexities of the burden associated with being a brilliant Black woman.