Roger Goodell Met With Black Women’s Roundtable Public Policy Network

Better late than never?

Roger Goodell Sits Down With Black Female Leaders After Leaving Them Off Advisory Panel

The NFL’s ain’t isht commissioner is finally making up for not putting any black women on the NFL’s special panel to advise them on domestic abuse issues.

According to NY Daily News reports:

Goodell met for two hours Friday at NFL headquarters on Park Ave. with nearly a dozen civic leaders who belong to the Black Women’s Roundtable Public Policy Network.

The meeting came about two months after the NFL honcho named a special panel to advise the league on domestic violence matters. The group he selected was comprised of three white women, including Lisa Friel, a former Manhattan prosecutor.

Melanie Campbell, the president and CEO of the D.C.-based National Coalition of Black Civic Participation, was outraged that none of the panelists were black despite the fact that about 70% of NFL players are African-American. She fired off a letter to Goodell pointing out the lack of diversity on the panel and requested a meeting with the commissioner. Since then, at least one black woman was added to the advisory group. The meeting with Goodell happened on Friday.

Campbell said the meeting “covered a lot of ground” and described it as “very productive.”

The NFL has been in damage-control mode since Ray Rice was captured on video knocking his then-fiancée unconscious in an Atlantic City casino elevator. The former Ravens running back initially drew just a two-game ban, but was suspended indefinitely after the video surfaced. He is seeking reinstatement.

At the NFL offices Friday, Campbell said the roundtable members provided Goodell with a list of community-based organizations in the cities where the NFL has teams.

“We’re not just victims,” she said. “We’re part of the solution.”

It’s about time… But is it too little too late? Some folks are fed all the way up with Roger Goodell and have been for some time. One more scandal like Ray Rice’s and homeboy needs his walking papers!

Black Women’s Roundtable