The Black Man on the Titanic, Serge Bile
The Black Man on the Titanic, Serge Bile
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The Black Man on the Titanic
The Story of Joseph Laroche

Author: Serge Bilé

Narrator: Mirron Willis

Unabridged: 4 hr 55 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/19/2019

Synopsis

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 glamourous 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.

About Serge Bilé

Serge Bilé is an Ivorian/French journalist. He is the author of several essays and documentaries about the Black and Caribbean experience. Over 100,000 copies of his book The Blacks in Nazi Camps have been sold worldwide. Currently, he is a news anchorman for Martinique Première, a network of France Télévision group and the most-watched TV newscaster on primetime on the Island.

About Mirron Willis

Mirron Willis has narrated over 200 audiobooks across various literary genres and has won several Earphone Awards for Excellence and is an Audie Award finalist and winner. Notable works include Ginny Gall by Charlie Smith, The Smokey Dalton Series by Kris Nelscott; My Song: A Memoir by Harry Belafonte; The Long Fall (Booklist, Best of 2009) and others by Walter Mosley; Uncle Tom's Cabin, Elijah of Buxton, The Translator; and Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B Dubois. In three seasons at the Ensemble Theatre (Houston, Texas), Mirron appeared as JP in What I Learned in Paris, Malcolm X in The Meeting, Henry in Race, and as Countee Cullen in Knock Me a Kiss (2013 Giorgee Award for Best Leading Actor). Other roles include Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, Henry VI Parts 2 & 3, and A Raisin in the Sun with the world-renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He has also performed as guest narrator with the Houston Symphony. Film and TV guest appearances include Criminal Minds, Private Practice, The Exes, Monk, 24, Seinfeld, Cheers, The Parkers, Living Single, E.R., Star Trek, and Independence Day, among others. Mirron resides and records audiobooks on his family's historic ranch in East Texas.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Jennice on March 23, 2020

Gripping story of a very focused young man who was determined to be successful in life, via higher education and hard work. A love child, born in Haiti and given his mother’s surname. He was the beneficiary of great love, attention, and great expectations. And He didn’t fail or disappoint. This book i......more

Goodreads review by Jacqueline on August 01, 2020

This was a good read. It's well written and loaded with fascinating factoids regarding Black Haitian history. Joseph Laroche was exceptional and brilliant. He worked hard in life even to his heroic end. Worth the read!......more

Goodreads review by Jacob on February 16, 2025

I ordered this book after reading about it online, and wanted to read during Black History Month as one of several by Black authors during the month. Glad that I did, as I'm a huge history lover and also fascinated by stories of the Titanic sinking. Add in the intriguing aspect of arguably the most......more

Goodreads review by Scott on October 07, 2022

(3.5 stars) For as long as I have read and studied about the Titanic, there are still stories that I have not heard about. This was one…a Haitian born engineer, Joseph Laroche and his family that sailed in Second Class accommodations aboard the ship. His family got to the lifeboats, but Laroche did......more

Goodreads review by Dravell on October 19, 2023

This book is very insightful, if you are interested in the history of Haiti; however, I felt the information on the Black man, in question, was sparse, but I understand that due to the series of unfortunate events a myriad of information on him does not exist. The rundown on his aristocratic Haitia......more

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