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

"Out of Mulberry Street: Stories of Tenement Life in New York City" by Jacob A. Riis is a collection of stories written in the late 19th century. It explores the harsh realities and vibrant lives of the impoverished residents in New York City’s tenements, illustrating both their struggles and the moments of joy that punctuate their daily existence. The narratives aim to shine a light on the social conditions of the time, making the unseen visible to a broader audience. The opening portion of the book introduces us to the atmosphere of the tenements during the Christmas season, capturing the poignant mix of hope and despair among the residents. It begins with the author reflecting on a single sprig of holly that stirs memories of the holiday season, leading into scenes of bustling streets full of holiday shoppers and the various families in their humble abodes. We meet families coping with poverty and celebrate the small joys of Christmas in their lives, such as the excitement over a simple Christmas tree adorned with makeshift ornaments. The juxtaposition of the festive spirit with the grim realities faced by these families sets the stage for a deeper exploration of their lives throughout the collection. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Jacob August Riis was a Danish-American social reformer, "muck-raking" journalist, and social documentary photographer. He contributed significantly to the cause of urban reform in the United States of America at the turn of the twentieth century. He is known for using his photographic and journalistic talents to help the impoverished in New York City; those impoverished New Yorkers were the subject of most of his prolific writings and photography. He endorsed the implementation of "model tenements" in New York with the help of humanitarian Lawrence Veiller. He was an early proponent of the newly practicable casual photography and one of the first to adopt photographic flash. While living in New York, Riis experienced poverty and became a police reporter writing about the quality of life in the slums. He attempted to alleviate the poor living conditions of poor people by exposing these conditions to the middle and upper classes.