Brick by Brick: Cheryl McKissack Daniel Honors Legacy at the A.G. Gaston Conference
A Story of Resilience, Heritage, and Black Excellence
At the 2022 A.G. Gaston Conference in Birmingham, Cheryl McKissack Daniel took the stage to deliver more than just a speech—she delivered a powerful reminder of what it means to carry a legacy, to build a future, and to honor a past rooted in perseverance.
Held at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, the conference brought together national and local leaders to discuss economic empowerment and the path forward for Black businesses. Cheryl’s keynote was a standout moment, weaving together her family’s incredible journey—from an enslaved Ashanti ancestor in 1790 to her current leadership of McKissack & McKissack, the oldest minority and woman-owned design and construction firm in the United States.
“My forefathers built some of this nation’s most enduring landmarks—military bases, churches, hospitals—brick by brick,” Cheryl told the audience. “Their uncompromising fortitude is the foundation of my work today. My twin sister and I are simply continuing what they began—honoring the past while building the future.”
She spoke candidly about the obstacles her family faced—having the skills, passing the exams, but still being denied the right to practice. Yet they persisted. In 1905, her grandfather Moses McKissack III and great-uncle Calvin McKissack formally incorporated the firm, despite barriers that would have stopped many others.
Today, under Cheryl’s leadership, McKissack & McKissack has grown to over 150 employees and managed more than $50 billion in construction projects, including iconic works like The New Terminal One at JFK and the World Trade Center Oculus. But for Cheryl, the work is not just about infrastructure—it’s about impact.
“This is what keeps me going,” she said. “If we throw in the towel now, after coming this far, how long will it take for others to catch up? We owe it to those who came before us—and those who will come after—to keep building.”
Her words were not just a tribute to her lineage, but a call to action for all who seek economic justice and generational change.
