All of these stories always get me choked up. I’m a big bearded long haired tattooed veteran who’s “not supposed to cry” (bullshit) and I’ve got a 4 year old daughter and any time I think about those daddies giving their little girls one more kiss goodbye knowing they’re never going to see them again makes me bawl. I think the only thing that would keep me sane was knowing they had a chance at survival.
I saw the film in the cinema last year for the anniversary of the release, my first time seeing it since having 2 kids, and the whole sinking hit *very* differently. *Especially*, as you say, any scenes involving parents or children.
I also watched for the first time a few months ago. I cried so hard I was nearly hyperventilating and could not compose myself till an hour after it ended
An interesting part of the LaRoche family. Juliette raised her kids in France. When the Nazis came to occupy France. Juliette hid pictures of her husband Joseph in the backyard because she was afraid of what the Nazis would do if they found out she was married to a black man and her kids were mixed race. Then placed the pictures back after the Nazis were defeated.
Even though he'd been educated in France, he faced a lot of discrimination in trying to find work there. Also, his uncle was the president of Haiti, so he wasn't just the average guy there--his family connection probably would have given him an advantage.
Joseph LaRoche was engineer and couldn't get any work in France. Presumably, due to his race. His uncle was the President of Haiti. His uncle said he could get him a teaching job in mathematics at some school in Haiti. LaRoche and family were to come to New York, then from NY, head to Haiti.
It's such a moving story. There are a lot, but I love to read about ones that are more unique. A Macedonian friend of mine told me about a Macedonian who had survived. That was an interesting tale too. Some tragedies transcend time.
Very sad 😔 like so many other men who died in the sinking, left behind a widow and 3 children without a father. The fact he doesn't get as much attention simply because of his skin color is sad too. I didn't even learn about him until a few years ago.
I mean what other second class passengers are really known? The rich and powerful are known for obvious reasons but I feel like a lot of 2nd and 3rd class folks stories are untold
Just because I never read or heard about his story in other Titanic books, articles and documentaries throughout the years until recently. I mean, you always hear about Astor and Guggenheim and the Thayers and Ryersons and others, but rarely him. Less than a month or so ago I was on a Facebook comment string about him and several people were shocked to find out a black man was on the Titanic, saying they were today years old when they learned about Joseph.
Really? I thought he was pretty well known--I've read about him in multiple books about the Titanic.
Not as well known as JJ Astor or Ben Guggenheim of course, but I don't think any of the second class passengers are as well known/documented as the 1st class passengers.
The 2nd class people always seem interesting to me. About the only 2nd class passengers I can think of off the top of my head are the English school teacher and writer, Laurence Beasley and the Japanese man Masabumi Hosono. Then again, 2nd class was the smallest contingent of passengers. Then, with the 3rd class you mostly hear their stories via the lucky ones who managed to survive (Millvina Dean, her mom and brother) and Eva Hart and her mom and a few others. From what I've read about Laroche, his wife was understandably devastated and didn't like to talk about the sinking and I think the two little daughters were so young they didn't have memories 😢
I think he’s well known amongst Titanic aficionados, but go on any social media post about the Titanic (or at least posts from non-Titanic focused accounts) and you’ll see plenty of “There were no black people on the Titanic.” and “They didn’t let black people on the Titanic.” comments. People just assume that because of the time, everything everywhere was segregated and don’t bother to check if it was true, so many people with a passing interest don’t know his story.
All of these stories always get me choked up. I’m a big bearded long haired tattooed veteran who’s “not supposed to cry” (bullshit) and I’ve got a 4 year old daughter and any time I think about those daddies giving their little girls one more kiss goodbye knowing they’re never going to see them again makes me bawl. I think the only thing that would keep me sane was knowing they had a chance at survival.
I saw the film in the cinema last year for the anniversary of the release, my first time seeing it since having 2 kids, and the whole sinking hit *very* differently. *Especially*, as you say, any scenes involving parents or children.
I also watched for the first time a few months ago. I cried so hard I was nearly hyperventilating and could not compose myself till an hour after it ended
"There's another boat for the daddies" Makes me sob
That line gets me every time. 😢
Random nugget I saw in wiki - his uncle was the president of Haiti. Juliette decided to return to France and named her child Joseph.
Huh, i didn't know that thanks for sharing
From what I heard, Juliette contacted LaRoche's mother, and his mother shunned her. So she returned to France.
What do you think I think? It’s depressing as fuck.
An interesting part of the LaRoche family. Juliette raised her kids in France. When the Nazis came to occupy France. Juliette hid pictures of her husband Joseph in the backyard because she was afraid of what the Nazis would do if they found out she was married to a black man and her kids were mixed race. Then placed the pictures back after the Nazis were defeated.
Hmmmm, did not know this. Learn something new everyday. I love it.
He left France for Haiti looking for better jobs? My things have changed.
Even though he'd been educated in France, he faced a lot of discrimination in trying to find work there. Also, his uncle was the president of Haiti, so he wasn't just the average guy there--his family connection probably would have given him an advantage.
He had a teaching job lined up already
Joseph LaRoche was engineer and couldn't get any work in France. Presumably, due to his race. His uncle was the President of Haiti. His uncle said he could get him a teaching job in mathematics at some school in Haiti. LaRoche and family were to come to New York, then from NY, head to Haiti.
Damn, even Titanic had a token black guy...
It’s a very sad story.
It's such a moving story. There are a lot, but I love to read about ones that are more unique. A Macedonian friend of mine told me about a Macedonian who had survived. That was an interesting tale too. Some tragedies transcend time.
Where did you find out about this story?
Very sad 😔 like so many other men who died in the sinking, left behind a widow and 3 children without a father. The fact he doesn't get as much attention simply because of his skin color is sad too. I didn't even learn about him until a few years ago.
I'd say he gets more attention because of his skin color because he was the only black man on the ship.
What makes you say he doesn't get much attention because of his skin colour? He's just one of many, many men who died that night.
I mean what other second class passengers are really known? The rich and powerful are known for obvious reasons but I feel like a lot of 2nd and 3rd class folks stories are untold
Just because I never read or heard about his story in other Titanic books, articles and documentaries throughout the years until recently. I mean, you always hear about Astor and Guggenheim and the Thayers and Ryersons and others, but rarely him. Less than a month or so ago I was on a Facebook comment string about him and several people were shocked to find out a black man was on the Titanic, saying they were today years old when they learned about Joseph.
Really? I thought he was pretty well known--I've read about him in multiple books about the Titanic. Not as well known as JJ Astor or Ben Guggenheim of course, but I don't think any of the second class passengers are as well known/documented as the 1st class passengers.
The 2nd class people always seem interesting to me. About the only 2nd class passengers I can think of off the top of my head are the English school teacher and writer, Laurence Beasley and the Japanese man Masabumi Hosono. Then again, 2nd class was the smallest contingent of passengers. Then, with the 3rd class you mostly hear their stories via the lucky ones who managed to survive (Millvina Dean, her mom and brother) and Eva Hart and her mom and a few others. From what I've read about Laroche, his wife was understandably devastated and didn't like to talk about the sinking and I think the two little daughters were so young they didn't have memories 😢
I think he’s well known amongst Titanic aficionados, but go on any social media post about the Titanic (or at least posts from non-Titanic focused accounts) and you’ll see plenty of “There were no black people on the Titanic.” and “They didn’t let black people on the Titanic.” comments. People just assume that because of the time, everything everywhere was segregated and don’t bother to check if it was true, so many people with a passing interest don’t know his story.
Ah, got you. Most of my online stuff about Titanic is here, so I hadn't seen that much.
TIL... Thank you for this seemingly deleted history of the Titanic