We all know the story of the Titanic. The biggest and most luxurious cruise ship at the time that crashed into an iceberg in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and sank to the bottom of the sea two hours later. Out of the 2,224 passengers aboard, only about 700 survivors made it to land.

However, you may not know that aboard this ship were also 8 Chinese men, six of whom survived. Yet, their voices are silent through the history of the Titanic.

Stuart from Wikimedia Commons

The Media's Reception

These six Chinese men were described as cowards who took seats from women and children escaping the sinking Titanic. They were described as terrible people who were dressed as women to sneak onto the lifeboats. Yet, all of these rumors had no foundation and no tangible proof.

This was simply the latest incidence of the spreading anti-Chinese hate across western countries of this time.

"[The Chinese survivors are] creatures who sprung into the lifeboats at the first sign of danger"

- A report filed soon after the Titanic's collapse

These accusation were overwhelmingly false, as proven by research that states that it would have been impossible for the men to stay hidden in the lifeboats.

Barker from Wikimedia Commons

5 of the 6 Chinese survivors were on the last lifeboat to leave the Titanic; Collapsible C, the same lifeboat that White Star chairman J. Bruce Ismay escaped on. Clearly hoping to reinforce his status after facing fierce criticism on the Titanic’s failure, Ismay said that four Chinese men were hiding under the benches, which was, again, false.

The sixth Chinese man survived solely by attaching himself to a floating door. In fact, Lifeboat 14 debated on whether or not to pick him up only because he was a “[censored].” In the end, thankfully, they did take him to safety.

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After the Titanic

While every survivor was welcomed into America and given help, these six Chinese men were shipped off in another boat, called the Annetta, within 24 hours of arriving. After facing so much trauma and tragedy, these men were sent to Cuba as sailors. Surviving the Titanic was not their greatest hurdle; it was the aftermath of the incident that was the real challenge. Their departure made it clear that the Chinese were not welcome in western countries.

After the incident, the six survivors went to different countries, of which included the UK, America, and Canada.

Browne from Wikimedia Commons

In the UK, the British were generally hostile to foreigners, and most Chinese seamen were sent back to Asia in a boat, which may have included two of the Chinese survivors.

Meanwhile, in Canada, until 1923, the Canadian government benefited from Chinese immigration and the cheap labor that it provided. One of the Chinese survivors could have been one of these laborers, which was lucky, because in 1923, the Canadian government imposed an increasing tax on Chinese immigrants to Canada.

This was more manageable than the US Chinese Exclusion Act, signed in 1882 by President Chester A. Arthur, prohibiting all Chinese immigration. This caused many Chinese to illegally enter the US, under the pretext of being blood-related relatives of Chinese Americans that were already U.S. citizens.

This included one of the Chinese Titanic survivors, Wing Son Fong, who came under three different names. Many illegal Chinese immigrants like Wing Son Fong were forced to keep their true identity a secret in the fear of being exposed and thrown out of the country. In fact, Wing Son Fong’s own son did not know that his father had survived the infamous Titanic.

Why You Should Care

This story serves not only as a reminder of the discrimination and racial injustice at that time, but also draws an eye to our society today. It shows how profound an impact history has, and how one story can uncover thousands more. With that arises the question of, "What can I do about it?" Here, I've compiled a short list of things every teen should do.

1. Research! There are so many stories just like this one that you have never seen or heard of. A simple Google search can uncover decades-old events that may shock and surprise you! Remember, history is a lesson to be learned. Everything that happened in the past can be avoided in the future if every part of history is simply made general knowledge.
2. Create a project. Make a website or a documentary highlighting one of these events. Show your classmates and friends what a monumental impact this event had. By sharing history with everyone, you are ensuring that stories like these are not lost, but instead highlighted. And by doing that, you are contributing to a brighter future.
3. Take action! Look at the world today and see how traces of a lost historical event still remain. Then, think of ways to actively combat it.

Stöwer from Wikimedia Commons

Conclusion

After being shamed for even surviving, these six Chinese men did not even share their stories with their families. Although most Titanic survivors have told their stories, the voices of these six men have been lost in our ever-expanding history. Their story brings light to millions of untold stories, allowing us to uncover the depths of history.