A POWERFUL CONVERSATION ON LEGACY AND LEADERSHIP
Cheryl McKissack Daniel Featured on Media with Myiesha
On November 20, 2025, Cheryl McKissack Daniel joined host Myiesha Majors on Media with Myiesha for an inspiring live interview centered on her debut memoir, The Black Family Who Built America: The McKissacks, Two Centuries of Daring Pioneers.
During the conversation, Cheryl reflected on her family’s remarkable 200-year legacy — beginning with her great-great-great-grandfather Moses McKissack, who was brought to America enslaved in 1790 and who passed down his trade in construction as a path toward freedom. She shared how that legacy continued through five generations, ultimately shaping her journey as President and CEO of McKissack & McKissack, the nation’s oldest Black-owned design and construction firm.
The interview highlighted the book’s central themes: faith, resilience, generational excellence, and the power of storytelling to preserve legacy. Cheryl discussed the responsibility she feels every time she steps into a leadership setting — carrying not only her own name, but the dreams, struggles, and triumphs of those who came before her.
“When I walked into any room, I wasn’t just representing myself — I was carrying generations with me,” Cheryl shared. “Our story proves that legacy is something we build brick by brick, with courage and intention.”
Myiesha guided a thoughtful discussion on how the McKissack family’s contributions helped shape America’s physical landscape and how Cheryl hopes her book will inspire others to reclaim their history, honor their roots, and build their own generational legacies.
