1943 – Joseph Laroche, Titanic’s Only Black Passenger, Born in Haiti

Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche, the only known Black passenger on the RMS Titanic, was born on June 16, 1886, in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti. A brilliant student, Laroche studied engineering in France, where he married a French woman and started a family. Facing racial discrimination in France’s job market, the Laroches decided to return to Haiti. They booked passage aboard the Titanic’s second-class deck. Laroche perished in the April 15, 1912, disaster, but his wife and daughters survived. While not widely known until decades later, Laroche\’s story underscores the global Black presence during the early 20th century and highlights the intersection of race, migration, and class. His life and tragic end serve as a testament to the overlooked narratives within major historical events. June 16 marks his birthday and invites remembrance of Black international mobility and the subtle but powerful threads tying Africa, the Caribbean, and Europe together.