Building legacies: Honoring Black History Month in the roofing industry

By Anna Lockhart. 

This special Coffee Conversations focuses on the achievements and impact Black roofing professionals have had on the industry, and how they will continue to in the future.  

In a special episode of Coffee Conversations®, sponsored by Johns Manville, guest speakers from across the industry gathered to celebrate the rich history and contributions of Black professionals in the roofing industry in honor of Black History Month. Guests Rae Fistonich, Derrick Hutchinson, Erica Reed and Donavan Morgan sat down with host Heidi J. Ellsworth to discuss the impact of Black professionals in the roofing industry and how important that legacy is to both the foundation and continuation of the industry.  

Rae with Chinook Building Envelope Systems began the conversation with an important insight, pointing out that from the beginning, Black labor has built this country from the ground up. Through slavery and forced labor, Black individuals have been a core part of the nation’s very foundation, and it’s important to consider that history, not just during Black History Month, but always when discussing the role Black people have played in building the roofing industry into what it is today. She shared, “It's something that we really need to start thinking about more as part of our history as a whole. And remembering that there's room for everyone in this industry, regardless of your gender, or the color of your skin, or your religious beliefs. There's room for everyone and we need to be a little bit more welcoming of those people.” 

When looking at the greatness of many architectural feats and landmarks in this country, and the individuals who made those achievements happen, we too must look at the unpaid and uncredited labor of enslaved people who made them happen. As Erica from Elite Construction Solutions pointed out, much of the construction and roofing of great American landmarks like the Smithsonian, the White House, Harvard Law School and many others can be credited to African Americans. “We've always been an integral part of the roofing industry, and we do need to be more inclusive. And I think having people like those of us on this call is going to help with that in the future. And we will continue to be a part of American history as it relates to the roofing industry.” 

From the beginning until now, Black people have played a major and impactful role in shaping the roofing industry in the United States and will continue to do so. For Rae, Erica, Donavan and Derrick, continuing that legacy and inspiring others to find success in the roofing industry is an important goal for the future. One way Donavan from Roofs by Don hopes that this will be achieved is through representation. “Having [Black] people being represented, letting people be aware of what's going on. And I think people on this call having these kinds of conversations is what's going to have people, Black people, know that this is an industry that is welcoming for us,” he shared. 

One way to do so is by keeping the conversation going. Derrick with USG shared, “As we fast-forward to the future, how do we continue to recognize, acknowledge and continue to build on that history? What I expect to see is continuing to build on that and how do we continue that trend moving forward, surrounding African Americans and what all we bring to the building industry. It's amazing what we've done in the past, and how do we continue to grow on that into the future?” 

Read the transcript, Listen to the episode or Watch the YouTube video to hear more of their insightful conversation.