Jacob Riis
Jacob Riis was a Danish-American journalist and social reformer who dedicated his life to exposing the harsh living conditions of New York City's poor immigrants in the late 19th century. Born in Denmark, Riis immigrated to the United States as a young man and worked various odd jobs before finding success as a newspaper reporter.
About
Born in Denmark, Riis immigrated to the United States as a young man and worked various odd jobs before finding success as a newspaper reporter. He became a relentless advocate for the underprivileged and actively participated in the social reform movement known as the Progressive Era. Riis's most influential work was his book "How the Other Half Lives: Studies Among the Tenements of New York," which documented the appalling housing conditions in New York City's slums through a combination of investigative reporting and photography. Riis's book sparked public outrage and led to significant improvements in living conditions for the city's impoverished inhabitants. Apart from his journalism, Riis also played a crucial role in establishing numerous charitable organizations and institutions aimed at assisting immigrants and improving social welfare. Jacob Riis's tireless efforts to shed light on the plight of the poor immigrants in New York City ultimately made him one of the leading figures of the Progressive Era and significantly impacted the course of American social reform.