Out of Mulberry Street: Stories of Tenement life in New York City (eBook)

Jacob A. Riis (1849–1914) was an influential Danish-American journalist and social reformer, renowned for his pioneering efforts in photojournalism and his commitment to spotlighting the squalid living conditions of the poor in New York City during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Before achieving recognition, Riis immigrated to the United States in 1870 and faced numerous hardships. His seminal work, 'How the Other Half Lives' (1890), brought him fame for its vivid and harrowing depiction of tenement life, making him an early advocate for tenement reform. Riis's 'Out of Mulberry Street: Stories of Tenement Life in New York City' further encapsulates his dedication to social justice and is regarded as an extension of his earlier efforts to illuminate the struggles of the urban poor. Throughout his literary oeuvre, Riis employed a narrative style that intertwined personal anecdotes with social commentary, transforming personal observation into powerful advocacy for change. His writings laid the groundwork for future social reform in urban America and reflected a burgeoning Progressive Era ethos. Riis's legacy endures in his profound impact on urban reform policies and his contributions to the practice of investigative journalism.