BOSS up! Paving the way for future excellence in Black leadership

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It’s Tuesday morning and I’m sipping my routine latte. It’s pretty great. Not because of the caffeine that fuels me for the day, but because I’m drinking it from my special pink mug that has the word “BOSS” in bold letters on the side. And today, I get to raise that mug to Jennifer King and her barrier-breaking achievement on becoming the first Black woman to serve as a full-time coach in the National Football League with The Washington Football Team.

For a franchise in the throes of a racial reckoning and pending name change, as well as allegations of misogynistic behavior within the organization, King’s hire is tactical, necessary, and right. Anyone who dismisses the move as merely damage control or a “diversity hire,” dismisses the over-a-decade experience as a college coach and professional football player she possesses. Expertise, immense skill, and a fresh perspective earned this position.