Note: This story first appeared on “A Sense of Place”, the collections blog for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. I wrote it as part of a series commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking. Major Archibald Willingham Butt wasn’t a Mississippian, but he had Mississippi connections. The prominent Titanic victim had at least one … Continue reading Another Mississippi Connection: Major Archibald Butt
The story of Joseph Laroche is one that has, until relatively recently, been largely forgotten in Titanic memory and discourse. The lingering question concerns why this is the case. You would think that seeing a black man walking the decks of the ship with a white woman and their offspring would make a lasting impression … Continue reading Black People and Titanic: The Reality
Almost immediately after the news of the Titanic’s demise began to spread, the memory of the ship and the sinking was key. Before it even reached New York City, the Carpathia, the ship that rescued the survivors of Titanic, was inundated with wireless messages from press agencies requesting information about the sinking, including personal accounts. … Continue reading Black People and Titanic: The Myth
Cane River by Lalita Tademy Published April 2001 by Grand Central Publishing A blend of fact and fiction, Cane River explores the history of Tademy’s family. Tademy tells the story of four generations of her slave-born female ancestors: Elisabeth, Suzette, Philomene, and Emily, all born along the Cane River in Louisiana. Their stories revolve around … Continue reading A Journey Along Cane River
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