For centuries, Black American's significant contributions to architecture and design have often been overlooked.

A new book chronicles the resilience of one family who's left an indelible mark on American construction since the mid-1800s.

Ali Rogan spoke with Cheryl McKissick Daniel, CEO of the construction and design company that bears her family's name,

and author of The Black Family Who Built America, The McKissick's Two Centuries of Daring Pioneers.

Cheryl McKissick, Daniel, thank you so much for joining us.

Your family's legacy stretches back many generations. It is anchored by a man

named Moses McKissick. Tell us about him. Moses McKissick was the first descendant from our family

who came to this country in 1790 as a slave. He was taught the trade of making bricks, and he resided in North Carolina.

His son was Moses McKissick II.

He was also a carpenter and master builder.

He was actually given as a wedding gift to the Maxwell family, and they lived in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

And after Emancipation, Moses McKizek moved to Pulaski, Tennessee,

and that's when he first started our business.

The interesting thing about Pulaski, Tennessee is where the Ku Klux Klan started.

This is the Deep Deep South.

You mentioned this is the Deep, deep south shortly after emancipation.

What sort of discrimination did your ancestors face in the early days of starting this firm?

In the early days, you know, they had many white patrons because these slave masters would help the slaves start their own business.

But it wasn't until later on the white people began to feel that blacks were a threat to them

and their livelihood.

And so that's when the McKizzics begin to shift their clientele to the black communities.

So that was churches, that was historically black colleges, things of that nature.

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