The Black Man on the Titanic

The Story of Joseph Laroche

By: Serge Bilé

Narrated by: Mirron Willis

Joseph Laroche was an anomaly among the passengers of the Titanic. He was exceptionally well-educated in a time when few Black men had access to an education - and when even fewer were able to travel on a luxurious ship in first or second class. When his family arrived in the United States without him after the Titanic's tragic crash, they were received well along with the other survivors and even sponsored by a wealthy New York heiress.

Who was Joseph Laroche? Where was he going, and what was his story?

This biography recounts the life of Joseph Laroche, his part in the history of Haiti, and how he ended up on the last ship of an era of glamorous travel. He was a direct descendant of the father of Haitian independence and related to two Haitian presidents. As an engineer, Laroche contributed to the construction of the Parisian railway, and he had a promising future ahead of him.

Ivorian-French writer Serge Bilé is the author of this fresh perspective on a tragedy that still fascinates millions and has inspired dozens of history books. With thorough research in Haiti and France, Bilé unearths the story of this exceptional figure in history. This is a story of black history in the United States and Haiti and of one man who represented something exceptional at their intersection.

©2019 Serge Bilé (P)2019 Blackstone Publishing

Knowledge is power

A wonderful read about a wonderful family. Critical race theory is history and our history is real.

A wonderfully heartbreaking listen.

I am very interested in all things Titanic; from the building of the ship, the passengers and crew and just how something like this happened. Learning even more about Joseph and his life makes the sinking even more heartbreaking than it already was. I completed this book in one sitting! Definitely worth a listen