Jacob Riis: How the Other Half Lives — Reading Comprehension

In the late 1800s, New York City was rapidly changing as waves of immigrants arrived from Europe. Many of these new Americans settled in overcrowded neighborhoods, known as tenements. Tenements were cheap apartment buildings with poor ventilation, little sunlight, and unsanitary conditions. Living in these buildings was a daily struggle, but city officials and wealthier citizens often ignored the problem. The city’s population doubled between 1860 and 1890, putting even more pressure on housing and resources.

Jacob Riis, a Danish immigrant and journalist, became one of the first people to bring attention to the realities of tenement life. Using a new technology called flash photography, Riis was able to photograph dark, crowded rooms and dirty alleyways. His book, "How the Other Half Lives," published in 1890, combined photographs with detailed descriptions of life in the poorest parts of the city. Riis’s work shocked many middle-class and upper-class readers who had never seen such conditions before.

Riis believed that exposing these conditions was the first step toward reform. He argued that society had a responsibility to help its poorest members. In his book, Riis wrote, "Long ago it was said that 'one half of the world does not know how the other half lives.' It did not know because it did not care." This powerful quote showed Riis’s perspective: people in power chose to ignore the suffering around them. By making the invisible visible, Riis hoped to inspire change.

However, not everyone agreed with Riis’s approach or his conclusions. Some city officials were embarrassed by the attention and argued that he exaggerated or misrepresented the situation. Landlords claimed that they provided affordable housing, even if conditions were poor. Some immigrants felt Riis’s work focused too much on their struggles and not enough on their strengths, such as their ability to build supportive communities and adapt to a new country.

Despite these criticisms, Riis’s book had important consequences. His photographs and stories led to increased public pressure for reform. New laws were passed to improve building safety and sanitation. The Tenement House Act of 1901, for example, required better ventilation, fire escapes, and running water in all new tenement buildings. Social reformers, known as Progressives, used Riis’s evidence to argue for city parks, better schools, and improved public health.

Yet, the story is complex. While many reforms helped, progress was slow and uneven. Changing laws did not always change lives overnight. Some tenement owners found ways to avoid new rules, and poverty remained a challenge for decades. Still, Riis’s work changed how Americans understood urban poverty and inspired future muckrakers—journalists who exposed social problems.

Looking at multiple perspectives helps us understand the contradictions of this period. Riis wanted to help, but his descriptions sometimes lacked respect for the cultures of the people he wrote about. At the same time, his work gave voice to those who had none and encouraged others to take action. The debate continues: How can society balance exposing problems with respecting the dignity of those affected?

Interesting Fact: Jacob Riis’s photographs were among the first to use flash powder, allowing him to capture images in the darkest corners of New York City’s tenements.

Who was Jacob Riis?

What were tenements?

When was "How the Other Half Lives" published?

Why did Riis use flash photography?

What was a result of Riis’s work?

What concern did some immigrants have?

Jacob Riis’s book had no effect. True or false?

What does "responsibility" mean in this passage?