The fictional story of Shine, a black man on the Titanic has been told in black communities for decades. However, it is not well known that a black man and his family were passengers aboard the Titanic.
When Haitian born and French educated engineer, Joseph Laroche boarded the Titanic with his wife Juliette and their two young daughters, his initial plans were to live and work in France. However, after being denied employment because he was black, he decided to use his first class steamship tickets to return to Haiti.
After learning that his wife was pregnant, Laroche chose to return to Haiti to get a good paying job and to be near his parents. He wanted to leave France before his wife’s pregnancy became too advanced for the trip. While preparing for the cruise on the French steamship La France, the family decided not to leave. The ship had strict guidelines against children dining with their parents. As a result, Laroche and his family transferred to the Titanic. Their first class tickets were only good for second class fair aboard the British luxury liner.
They boarded the Titanic April 10, 1912, in Cherbourg, France just outside of Paris. For three days the family enjoyed the magnificent accommodations of the cruise ship. On April 14th, after an evening meal with his wife and daughters, Laroche left the family to join the other men in the second class smoking parlor. His wife Juliette and two daughters returned to their room.
At approximately 12:00 a.m., the ship hit an iceberg and the frigid ocean water poured into the ship. Laroche gathered his pregnant wife and children and loaded them in a life boat. He put his money and valuables in his coat and draped it over the shoulders of his 22 year old wife. That would be the last time Juliette would see her 26 year old husband. Joseph Laroche and his family believed to be the only black family aboard the Titanic died along with some 1,500 other passengers.
PICTURES: L: Joseph Laroche and family. Middle: Monument to those lost at sea. R: Writing on front of monument. Second Row L: Full view of monument. The memorial to the Titanic is located on the SW Waterfront, Off Main Avenue, Washington, DC 20050. Second Row R: Writing on the back of the monument.
SUBMITTED: October 19, 2008. Pictures taken October 19, 2008.
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