Jacob Riis was born in Denmark, and immigrated to the United States at the age of 21. He became a police officer in the Lower East Side and was horrified with the effects of poverty on the lives of the people living in the slums. He decided to do something about it, and took his camera to the streets.
Jacob Riis took many photographs that illustrated the terrible life people were forced to live when stricken with poverty almost impossible to get out of. Though How the Other Half Lives is his most famous work, he also wrote other books. One, called The Children of the Poor, showed how children in poverty were forced to live and work.
In The Children of the Poor, there were many different circumstances he showed. He wrote about public schools and lack thereof, writing about the children who couldn’t go as they had to work and help their families, or went to industrial schools that prepared them for life in the industry and forced them to work in factories. He showed newsboys and explained how they slept on the streets despite having families, as they may have not sold all their papers, wasted their money, or simply were too scared to go home. He wrote about children of immigrants, about industrial schools, about child labor, and so much more. Though not as prevalent in our history books, The Children of the Poor was an important documenting of poverty.
Riis was able to create social reform with his powerful photographs and lectures. He was friends with Teddy Roosevelt, and his books had an impact on him. He wanted to help Riis with his reforms and documenting, and when he became president, he even wrote a tribute to Riis. Riis later wrote a campaign biography that praised him.
Despite his success while he was alive, when he died in 1914, his work was forgotten. That is, until it was brought back to light and displayed in the Museum of the City of New York in 1947. Riis’ work was undoubtedly important. He was one of the first journalists to use his power to reveal the effects of poverty, and one of the first people to use photography to illustrate his point and get more attention. He wrote many books, including an autobiography, and is now remembered for his powerful message on social reforms and amazing photography skills.
Jacob Riis. Newsboys Sleeping in the Offices of the New York Sun
Jacob Riis, Richard Hoe Lawrence (1858–1936), and Henry G. Piffard (1842–1910). Tramp in Mulberry Street Yard
Jacob Riis. Flat in Hell’s Kitchen, “Ruin,”
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jacob-Riis
https://www.icp.org/browse/archive/constituents/jacob-riis?all/all/all/all/0
https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jacob-riis/reformer.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Riis
I really enjoyed how you included some of his actual photographs so we could better understand the truths that Riis revealed. I also loved how you ended with his impact on our country's history and focused more on the man himself rather than just paying attention his work. I learned a lot about Riis because of your post.
ReplyDeleteI liked reading about how Riis became such a big influence with his writings that even President Theodore Roosevelt noticed him. I found out that Roosevelt did a lot more than just write a tribute to him. Roosevelt was inspired to close the worst of the lodging houses and spurred city officials to reform and enforce the city’s housing policies. Riis had such a big impact on helping change New York city from the slums he witnessed as a police officer to a place better for all.
ReplyDeleteSource:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/pioneering-social-reformer-jacob-riis-revealed-how-other-half-lives-america-180951546/
I liked the reading and your pictures. I liked how you explained how the slums effected America's economy. I learned a lot about Riff thanks to your post.
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