The Black Family That Built America: A 5-Generation Construction Dynasty
Earn Your Leisure
iHeartPodcasts
4.8 • 7.8K Ratings
🗓️ 14 September 2025
⏱️ 13 minutes
🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS
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Summary
In this insightful clip from Market Mondays, we are joined by Cheryl McKissick, the trailblazing CEO and President of McKissick & McKissick—the oldest Black-owned and woman-owned construction firm in the United States, with a legacy spanning over 230 years and five inspiring generations.
Hosts Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings sit down with Cheryl to discuss her new book, *The Black Family Who Built America*, and the extraordinary history of her family's achievements. From their origins during slavery when Moses McKissick I perfected the art of brickmaking in North Carolina, to becoming master carpenters, architects, and builders responsible for iconic projects like JFK Airport’s Terminal 1, Barclays Center, and Harlem Hospital, Cheryl's family has been a cornerstone in shaping America’s built environment.
Cheryl shares how her family navigated and thrived through slavery, Jim Crow, and systemic prejudice—all while maintaining ownership, uplifting their community, prioritizing education, and never losing sight of their identity. She highlights the five principles, or "5 Ps," that have guided their success across generations: perseverance, preparedness, persistence, productivity, and prayer. These principles have not only fueled monumental growth but have also helped the McKissicks uplift other contractors, architects, and engineers along the way.
Learn how Cheryl scaled the business from its earliest days into an industry leader overseeing projects with billion-dollar valuations. She also sheds light on the importance of building networks, creating legacy, and standing as a beacon and mirror for Black professionals across America. Cheryl’s story is a testament to what can happen “when perseverance meets purpose,” and is filled with lessons for anyone looking to create generational wealth, own their story, and lead with impact.
If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, generational wealth, Black excellence in business, and the hidden figures who truly built America—this clip is a must-watch.
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#MarketMondays #CherylMcKissick #BlackFamilyWhoBuiltAmerica #GenerationalWealth #LegacyBuilding #BlackExcellence #ConstructionIndustry #BusinessLeadership #HiddenFigures #Entrepreneurship
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Earners, what's up? |
| 0:02.0 | You ever walk into a small business and everything just works? |
| 0:05.6 | Like the checkout is fast, the receipts are digital, tipping is a breeze, and you're out |
| 0:10.7 | the door before the line even builds. |
| 0:12.9 | Odds are they're using Square. |
| 0:15.5 | We love supporting businesses that run on Square because it just feels seamless, whether |
| 0:19.5 | it's a local coffee shop, a vendor at a pop-up market, or even one of our merch partners. |
| 0:25.0 | Square makes it easy for them to take payments, manage inventory, and run their business with confidence, all from one simple system. |
| 0:33.1 | If you're a business owner or even just thinking about launching something soon, Square is |
| 0:37.8 | hands down one of the best tools out there to help you start, run, and grow. |
| 0:42.8 | It's not just about payments. |
| 0:44.6 | It's about giving you time back so you can focus on what matters most. |
| 0:48.7 | Ready to see how Square can transform your business, visit square.com backslash go, backslash EYL to learn more. That's square |
| 0:57.3 | dot com backslash go backslash EYL. Don't wait, don't hesitate. Let Square handle the back end |
| 1:04.0 | so you can keep pushing your vision forward. This episode is brought to you by PNC Bank. |
| 1:12.3 | A lot of people think podcasts about work are boring. |
| 1:15.3 | And sure, they definitely can be. |
| 1:17.7 | But understanding a professional's routine shows us how they achieve their success |
| 1:21.5 | little by little day after day. |
| 1:24.5 | It's like banking with PNC Bank. |
| 1:26.9 | It might seem boring to save plan and make |
| 1:29.3 | calculated decisions with your bank, but keeping your money boring is what helps you live |
... |
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