Jacob Riis, an immigrant himself documented the appalling living conditions in which the immigrants had to overcome within New York City. These pictures depict the horrible conditions such as, standing water within the rooms, overcrowding, and filth that plagued the residents. However, within the tenements many cultures, religions, and personalities co-existed and flourished. Different people with very different thoughts and opinions on the world somehow managed to stay positive through the negative. Today, most of the tenements that existed have been replaced by low income “subsidized” housing.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Tenements by Marlene Huntsman
The population exploded in the 19th century due to the large number of immigrants flocking to the United States in search of the “American Dream”. Overpopulation became a huge problem especially in the cities were real estate was scarce. Many immigrants lived in tenements, narrow low rise apartment buildings that were initially used as single family dwellings. However, they were now being used to house a record number of immigrants eventually causing overcrowding. Conditions were horrid within these tenements which had a lack of indoor plumbing and no proper ventilation. Few windows existed and many were forced to live with no natural light in depressed rooms. Children played in areas that were infested with sewage causing many to become ill and prone to many diseases.
Jacob Riis, an immigrant himself documented the appalling living conditions in which the immigrants had to overcome within New York City. These pictures depict the horrible conditions such as, standing water within the rooms, overcrowding, and filth that plagued the residents. However, within the tenements many cultures, religions, and personalities co-existed and flourished. Different people with very different thoughts and opinions on the world somehow managed to stay positive through the negative. Today, most of the tenements that existed have been replaced by low income “subsidized” housing.
Maher, J. (2005-2011). Documenting the Social Scene. Retrieved February 22, 2011, from James Maher Photography.
Jacob Riis, an immigrant himself documented the appalling living conditions in which the immigrants had to overcome within New York City. These pictures depict the horrible conditions such as, standing water within the rooms, overcrowding, and filth that plagued the residents. However, within the tenements many cultures, religions, and personalities co-existed and flourished. Different people with very different thoughts and opinions on the world somehow managed to stay positive through the negative. Today, most of the tenements that existed have been replaced by low income “subsidized” housing.
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