The McKissack’s construction family runs five generations deep, and while the name of the company has changed throughout the years, one thing remained the same: family before everything.
The family business is now led by twin sisters Cheryl and Deryl. But these two Black women didn’t just have wealth fall into their laps. They both earned engineering degrees and worked at different construction firms before finally handling the family business. Having worked on some of the biggest construction projects around the country, the sisters ensured all their contracts met one major requirement.
The sisters make it a requirement to have minority construction workers involved in their projects. If it weren’t for them, many Black Americans would be left out. Their insistence is important to the entire industry.
Black people only make up five percent of the construction field. These sisters are using their power to address the inequities in the construction industry.
The McKissack family ensured the skills and money they earned built generational wealth for their families and others. They remind us that when we continue to stick together, we can create generational opportunities for our lineage and for the culture.