Fifth Street Tavern and UPMC Braddock Hospital on Braddock Avenue 2011

LaToya Ruby Frazier made this black and white photograph of the Fifth Street Tavern and UPMC Braddock Hospital on Braddock Avenue. It is a somber portrait of a community in transition. Frazier, deeply influenced by her own experiences growing up in Braddock, Pennsylvania, uses photography to document the effects of deindustrialization and urban decay on working-class communities, particularly those of color. The image captures the stark reality of a town grappling with economic hardship and institutional neglect. The demolished landscape in the foreground is a visceral representation of loss, while the presence of the tavern and the hospital hint at the social fabric that once bound the community together. Frazier's work is not just about documenting; it's about bearing witness to the stories of those whose voices are often marginalized. As Frazier herself has said, "I am an artist who is deeply invested in using my work to advocate for social justice." The photograph serves as a potent reminder of the human cost of progress, urging viewers to confront the complexities of identity, place, and belonging.