A pioneer of social-documentary photojournalism, Danish American social reformer Jacob Riis (1849-1914) used photography to help reveal the plight of impoverished immigrants in New York during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He used the term 'go-betweens' to describe the children of the immigrants, referring to their ability to adapt, learn languages and overcome cultural barriers to help their parents adjust in their new lives.