Publishers Weekly Spotlights McKissack Memoir
The Black Family Who Built America continues to make waves — this time with a powerful review from Publishers Weekly, which calls Cheryl McKissack Daniel’s debut memoir a “tenacious” and “candid” look at a groundbreaking Black legacy 200 years in the making.
The memoir details the incredible journey of the McKissack family — builders, artisans, and trailblazers — from enslavement to industry leadership. Cheryl, now president of McKissack & McKissack (the oldest minority-owned construction firm in the U.S.), reflects on how her family’s legacy was forged with skill, courage, and enduring excellence.
From 1790 to Barclays Center: A Parallel Story of Progress
The Publishers Weekly review emphasizes the book’s compelling dual timeline — blending rich family history with Cheryl’s own bold experiences in the construction industry.
It begins in 1790 with Cheryl’s Ashanti great-great-grandfather Moses, who was enslaved at 11 and trained in carpentry by Irish builder William McKissack. Over the next two centuries, his descendants would go on to construct iconic buildings like Nashville’s Maxwell House Hotel, a Carnegie library, and several historic college campuses.
Fast-forward to Cheryl’s era: her leadership includes projects like the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, international expansions, and standing strong against systemic barriers that still affect Black professionals today.
Real, Raw, and Relatable
Publishers Weekly applauds Cheryl’s transparency, noting how she “divulges intimate details” about her struggles — from managing stress through alcohol to navigating an industry still dominated by the white “old boys’ network.”
The review praises the book not only as a memoir but as a “candid career guide for Black professionals.” Cheryl’s story serves as both a celebration of legacy and a strategic manual for pressing forward in industries where true equity remains a work in progress.
Read Publishers Weekly’s Full Review here.
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Buy The Black Family Who Built America now and be part of a legacy that continues to shape our country’s future.
