Emma Lazarus

Born in New York City, she began writing poetry as a teenager. Her early work was influenced by Romanticism, but she later turned to Jewish themes and Zionist advocacy. In 1883 she wrote ‘The New Colossus’ to raise funds for the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal; the poem welcomed immigrants with its famous lines. Her collection ‘Songs of a Semite’ (1882) explored Jewish identity and history. She also translated Jewish poets and was a prominent voice for refugees. Her significance lies in bridging American poetry with social activism, and she remains an enduring symbol of immigration and American ideals.