Doris McKinney, Republic Steel (Working People series) 1978

Milton Rogovin created this gelatin silver print, "Doris McKinney, Republic Steel," as part of his "Working People" series. Rogovin, who was blacklisted during the McCarthy era for his political beliefs, turned to photography to document marginalized communities. This image is not just a portrait; it is a document of labor, race, and gender in the industrial sector. Rogovin’s lens captures the gritty reality of steelwork, a domain often associated with masculine identity, yet here we see Doris McKinney, a Black woman, challenging those boundaries. Rogovin once said, "I have always tried to photograph the invisible man, the forgotten man." In this photograph, McKinney is surrounded by smoke and sparks, a visual representation of the strenuous and dangerous conditions she faces. Her presence is a powerful statement about the intersection of race, class, and gender within the American working class. The emotional impact of the photograph lies in its raw depiction of McKinney’s resilience. It invites us to reflect on the narratives that often go untold.