Jacob August Riis Quotes

A collection of quotes by Jacob August Riis.

Jacob August Riis (1849-1914) was a Danish-American social reformer, journalist, and photographer. Born in Ribe, Denmark, Riis immigrated to the United States in 1870. He initially struggled to find work and faced poverty and homelessness. Riis eventually found employment as a police reporter for the New York Tribune, where he used his platform to shed light on the deplorable living conditions in New York City slums.

Riis is best known for his groundbreaking book, "How the Other Half Lives," published in 1890. The book documented the harsh realities of slum life through a combination of investigative journalism and powerful photography. Riis used his own photographs, captured using new flash technology, to expose the appalling conditions in overcrowded tenement buildings and impoverished neighborhoods.

In addition to his work as a journalist and photographer, Riis was an influential social reformer. He advocated for improved housing and sanitation conditions, as well as educational opportunities for immigrant children. Riis's book and activism played a significant role in bringing attention to the plight of the urban poor and influencing progressive reforms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Jacob Riis's work had a lasting impact on American journalism and social reform movements. His efforts to expose and alleviate poverty helped to change public perception and sparked important conversations about social inequality and the need for social reform in the United States.