Review - The Black Family Who Built America

Title:  The Black Family Who Built America  

Author:  Cheryl McKissack Daniel

Publisher:  Atria/Black Privilege Publishing

Genre:   Nonfiction; History

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   288

Date of Publication:   August 12, 2025

My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

The riveting story of the McKissack family—the founders of the leading Black design and construction firm in the United States, from its beginnings in the mid-1800s to its thriving status today—in a moving celebration of resilience and innovation.

Captured in his native West Africa and enslaved on American shores by a North Carolina plantation owner, Moses McKissack I began to build his way to emancipation right from the start. Becoming an enslaved craftsman, he picked up the trade his family would become famous for in the earliest years of the 19th century, passing his learnings down to his children and seeing them off to freedom after the Civil War.

The family would settle in Tennessee, getting its bearings in the building trades despite rampant discrimination, establishing a foothold that now sees its latest generations working at the absolute peak of its industry.

The family’s fingerprints have been left all across the United States, spanning from Reconstruction to contemporary times, through projects like the Morris Memorial Building, Capers C.M.E. Church, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.

Here, Cheryl McKissack Daniel, CEO and president of McKissack & McKissack, reveals the full fascinating story of her family. So much more than an exploration of architectural achievements, The Black Family Who Built America is also a compelling illustration of how history rhymes and reverberates, and a celebration of the human spirit’s ability to overcome adversity and drive change. From Moses’s humble beginnings to Cheryl’s current role as a trailblazer and champion of diversity, the family’s journey underscores the importance of perseverance, innovation, and strategic vision in shaping a legacy that continues to inspire and impact the construction industry.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS:

American history is always interesting, but Black history even more so. When you read this book you learn about the McKissack family and how they were instrumental when it came to being part of the fabric of what made this country. 

With the author, Cheryl McKissack Daniel, recounting the history of her family, all while developing her own story, this story makes me think of aspects of my past. For example, her attending all white schools. I remember my senior year, and there were two other Black students besides myself, and I was the only Black graduate in my senior year. Definitely felt like a sore thumb, making me resonate with McKissack the more I read. 

With her family coming to America as slaves, the literally came a long way. This is a family that more people need to learn about and I hope that through the pages of this book that they are able to do sol.

Many thanks to Atria/Black Privilege Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.