Jacob Riis

For my AP US History class, I am required to write two biography essays. One written like an essay, and the othor as a website. Both were required to be in a creative format. My first essay was completed back in December, and my subject was Sarah Josepha Hale. For my second subject, I chose Jacob Riis and decided to make a blog consisting of diary entries. I have just finished it (yay!), and thought I would share it with you all :) Here's the link: http://jacobriis.blogspot.com

A little background for you: Jacob Riis was born in Ribe, Denmark, and immigrated to America when he was around twenty. He suffered all the prejudices immigrants were submitted to, but managed to rise to greatness and reform New York of its cruel lodging settlements and prejudices against immigrants. He was a close friend of Theodore Roosevelt, and a lover of open air and freedom. It was fascinating to read more about him, and to actually 'experience' the trials and tribulations he bore in his early years in America. Using photography and his gift for writing, he truly *showed* New York what was actually happening in the slums and dark allies that they were blissfully ignorant of. I hope you enjoy the blog about him, and maybe even learn a thing or two, as well ;)