Cheryl McKissack Daniel Featured on PBS NewsHour
Cheryl McKissack Daniel, President & CEO of McKissack & McKissack, was recently featured on PBS NewsHour in a special segment highlighting her debut memoir, The Black Family Who Built America: The McKissacks, Two Centuries of Daring Pioneers.
A Story Too Often Overlooked
In her conversation with PBS’s Ali Rogin, Cheryl shed light on the extraordinary contributions Black Americans have made to architecture and design — contributions that have historically been overlooked. Through her book, Cheryl chronicles her family’s indelible impact on American construction since the mid-1800s, honoring a legacy that continues to shape communities and skylines across the nation.
The McKissack Legacy
For more than 200 years, the McKissack family has embodied resilience, innovation, and leadership. Cheryl’s book details how her family’s journey began with Moses McKissack, who learned brickmaking while enslaved, and grew into a multi-generational story of entrepreneurship and excellence in design and construction.
Today, as the fifth-generation CEO, Cheryl leads McKissack & McKissack into the future, with more than $50 billion in projects completed under her leadership — including iconic work at JFK Airport, LaGuardia, and Lincoln Financial Field.
Why This Feature Matters
Being spotlighted on PBS NewsHour — one of America’s most trusted platforms for news and cultural storytelling — underscores the importance of Cheryl’s mission to elevate untold stories. Her book and her voice amplify the message that Black families like the McKissacks have been foundational in building America’s physical and cultural landscape.
