Emma Lazarus

Emma Lazarus was a prominent American poet, born in 1849, whose literary works encompassed poetry, prose, and translations. Her writing often reflected her activism for Jewish and Georgist causes, showcasing her commitment to social issues. Notably, her 1883 sonnet, "The New Colossus", has become an iconic representation of her poetic talent, inspired by the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty. This sonnet has had a lasting impact, with its lines being inscribed on a bronze plaque installed on the Statue's pedestal in 1903.

Lazarus's life was marked by her empathy for refugees fleeing antisemitic persecution in eastern Europe, whom she aided in their resettlement in New York. Her sonnet, "The New Colossus", was a powerful expression of this empathy, and its message has been reinterpreted in various artistic forms. The sonnet's final lines were set to music by Irving Berlin in 1949 for the musical Miss Liberty, and later by Lee Hoiby in 1985 for his song cycle "Three Women". Through her poetry, Lazarus left a lasting legacy, passing away in 1887, but her words continue to resonate with themes of freedom and refuge.