Cheryl McKissack Daniel Joins Belonging to Blackness Podcast
Dr. Cheryl McKissack Daniel joins host Dr. Yndia Lorick-Wilmot for the Season 8 premiere of the Belonging to Blackness podcast, sharing the extraordinary story behind one of America’s most enduring Black family business legacies.
In Season 8, Episode 069, titled “The Black Family Who Built America,” Cheryl reflects on her family’s remarkable journey from enslavement to engineering and the generations of builders, architects, and entrepreneurs who helped shape both America’s built environment and the McKissack family legacy.
A Five-Generation Legacy of Building
As Chair of McKissack & McKissack, the oldest minority- and woman-owned design and construction firm in the United States, Cheryl carries forward a legacy spanning five generations.
Her conversation with Dr. Lorick-Wilmot explores the history behind that legacy while also examining what it means to inherit the responsibility of carrying it forward.
Together, they discuss Black history, generational wealth, entrepreneurship, leadership, infrastructure, and the often-overlooked contributions of Black builders, architects, and engineers.
The conversation goes beyond the structures the McKissack family has helped build. It examines how perseverance, opportunity, family, and entrepreneurship can create an impact that reaches across generations.
From Enslavement to Engineering
Cheryl also discusses her acclaimed book, The Black Family Who Built America: The McKissacks, Two Centuries of Daring Pioneers, which chronicles her family’s journey and the remarkable individuals who transformed knowledge, skill, determination, and opportunity into an enduring American business legacy.
Throughout the episode, Cheryl reflects on identity, belonging, resilience, and the responsibility that comes with being part of a story much larger than any one individual.
It is a story about building more than structures.
It is about building history, creating opportunity, preserving legacy, and ensuring future generations have something meaningful upon which to build.
Watch the Conversation
Watch Cheryl McKissack Daniel’s full conversation with Dr. Yndia Lorick-Wilmot below.
Season 8, Episode 069
Belonging to Blackness: The Podcast
“The Black Family Who Built America”
The episode is also available through Belonging to Blackness and wherever you listen to podcasts.
About Belonging to Blackness
Hosted, created, and executive produced by Dr. Yndia Lorick-Wilmot, Belonging to Blackness explores the people, histories, experiences, and ideas that shape Black identity and belonging.
Follow @BelongingToBlackness_Podcast and @ProfYndia on Instagram for more conversations from the series.
