Jacob Riis: Immigrants Old and New, and the Making of Americans

Abstract

Jacob A. Riis, the immigrant journalist, pioneering photographer, and author of the classic How the Other Half Lives, traditionally has been seen as a progressive social reformer who, despite his obvious sympathy far the “other half,” did not always rise above the racial and ethnic stereotyping prevalent during the late nineteenth century. Focusing on Riis's extensive writings about Italian immigrants, this study reveals a much more complex man who played numerous roles, was driven by often conflicting motivations, and was influenced by the powerful, sometimes underestimated discourse of “scientific racialism.” This article also argues that Riis, in his zeal to champion and Americanize the Italian immigrants, distorted and/or ignored their material and historical reality.