Phyllis Brown
When most people think of love stories connected to the Titanic, Jack and Rose come to mind. But sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction. The forgotten story of the only Black man on that doomed ship is even more heartbreaking.
Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche managed to ensure his pregnant wife and family were safely aboard one of the few available lifeboats. His last words to them were a promise that he would see them soon.
Scroll down to know the whole story of Joseph Laroche, who sacrificed his life for his family’s safety.
Joseph’s life before the Titanic
Joseph Laroche was born in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, on May 26, 1886, to a wealthy family, with his uncle, Cincinnatus Leconte, serving as President of Haiti.
At 15, Joseph moved to France to pursue his dream of becoming an engineer, as Haiti had no engineering schools. In France, he met and married Juliette, the daughter of a wine seller.
Despite his education and fluency in French, Creole, and English, Joseph faced racial discrimination and struggled to find a well-paying job.
Frustrated with poor pay from racist employers, Joseph decided to seek opportunities outside France to support his family, including his two young daughters and pregnant wife. They planned to go back to Haiti, hoping to find better opportunities.
Initially, Laroche’s mother bought tickets on the La France ship as a welcoming gift for her son’s new family. However, the ship’s policy of separating parents and children led them to trade their first-class tickets for second-class tickets on the RMS Titanic so they could stay together.
The Titanic was scheduled to depart from Cherbourg, France, on the evening of April 10, 1912. The voyage to New York was expected to take five days, after which Laroche and his family would board another ship to Haiti.
On board the ‘unsinkable’ ship
On April 10, 1912, the Laroche family boarded the Titanic as a crowd admired the ship from the dock, and a band played “La Marseillaise,” the French national anthem. The Titanic, a marvel of luxury, was famously deemed unsinkable.
Joseph Laroche was reportedly the only Black passenger among the more than 2,000 people on board.
Even with their second-class tickets, the Laroches found great comfort on the Titanic. Their roomy suite provided privacy, with multiple bunks and a pull-out sofa for ample sleeping space. The dining area was open to both first- and second-class passengers.
On board, the Laroches made friends with another French family, attended concerts, and watched their daughters happily play with other children. Juliette, who was a few months pregnant with their third child, marveled at their experience.
“The arrangements could not be more comfortable. We have two bunks in our cabin, and the two babies sleep on a sofa that converts into a bed,” Juliette wrote to her father on April 11. “Up to now, I have not felt seasick. I hope it will go on this way. The sea is very smooth, and the weather is wonderful. If you could see how big this ship is!”
The night of the tragedy
In the early hours of April 15, 1912, disaster struck. The ship that ‘god himself couldn’t sink’ hit an iceberg, tearing a massive hole below the waterline.
A steward came to the Laroche family and told them to put on their life jackets. Joseph Laroche gathered their valuables, including money and jewelry, and led his wife Juliette, who didn’t speak English, to the lifeboats.
As the Titanic began to sink, taking about 2 hours and 40 minutes to fully submerge, panic ensued. Juliette and their daughter Simonne managed to get onto a lifeboat.
“When the collision happened, there was terrible panic. People were pushing to get off the boat,” Juliette later recalled. “I felt someone grab me and throw me into a lifeboat next to my little Simonne.”
Joseph made sure their other daughter stayed safe. Juliette saw him holding their youngest daughter above the crowd. Someone grabbed her and put her on the lifeboat.
Joseph wrapped a coat around Juliette and said, “Here, take this, you are going to need it. I’ll get another boat. God be with you. I’ll see you in New York.”
“Then the lifeboat was once and for all lowered into the sea. I hardly had time to give my husband a final farewell,” Juliette said. “I heard his voice above the rumble yelling, ‘See you soon, darling. There will be space for everyone. Don’t worry about the lifeboats. Take care of our girls. See you soon.'”
The ship did not have enough lifeboats for all its passengers, with only 20 available. Priority was given to women and children, especially those in first class. Joseph Laroche could not join his family in the lifeboat, although he might have briefly stepped in to give a crying Louise some milk.
At around 2:17 a.m., Juliette watched as the Titanic vanished from view. That was the last time she saw her husband. The 25-year-old Joseph, with approximately 1,500 people, stayed on the Titanic, sinking with the ship that had been billed as unsinkable and never to be seen again.
Without Joseph, Juliette and her children had no reason to continue to Haiti. After stopping in New York for medical treatment, they returned to France. In December 1912, Juliette gave birth to a son, Joseph Jr., named in honor of his father.
This is the untold story of Joseph Laroche, the only Black passenger on the Titanic. His story reminds us of the diverse narratives often overlooked in history.
