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Publisher Description
Jacob A. Riis (1849-1941), pioneer of social documentary photography and journalism, occupies a singular position in the history of social journalism. Jacob A. Riis spent his life bringing to light the societal effects of urban decay and poverty in 19th century America. Here is presented his 1901 book "The Battle with the Slum", an arresting account of New York City's blighted areas. His exploration of the squalor found in Lower East Side tenements was groundbreaking. In the 1880's, up to 335,000 people lived within one square mile, making it the most densely populated place on earth. 10 to 15 persons occupied one room, creating rampant disease, hunger, and crime. By writing such captivating reportage on the conditions, public attention eventually lead to political action. Written with a literary eloquence rarely seen in journalistic writing of the time, "The Battle with the Slum" turns a documentarian's eye upon the roots of poverty in America.
1 Review
4.0

Em
Created about 6 years agoShare
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“3.5 stars, but I’ll round up all day long for anything by Jacob Riis. It only took me FOREVER to finish this one, but I’m glad I did because I never tire of the triumphant demonstration of the goodness of humankind that Riis so often uses to close his books.
I’m consistently struck by how timely Riis’s work is, even though it was written over a century ago. He discusses immigration, crime, and the education system, all of which are still very much apart of the modern political conversation. After “the Other Half” Riis did not stop fighting for justice in the slums of Manhattan. He fought long and hard, updating the public, in this particular book, about all the reform that had been done over the years. He admits that there is a long way to go, but he does not say so regretfully. He admits it ready to embrace the challenge.
I love that Riis put so much of his efforts into the betterment of the lives and education of poor children. He wants the best for them because he knows they are the future. His discussion of the centrality of the home and good citizenship was also very interesting.
I look forward to reading more of Riis’s work, as he is such an underrated figure in American history.”
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