@ Bev and Jerry "White Star Line, owners of the Titanic, did not allow blacks on their ships either as passengers or crew, not even as stokers"

Apparently not quite true:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Philippe_Lemercier_Laroche
http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/joseph-laroche.html

"Mr Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche was born in Cap Haitien, Haiti on 26 May 1886 [... and subsequently went to France, but had to return after marrying]

"Joseph's mother in Haiti bought them steamship tickets on the La France as a welcome present, but the line's strict policy regarding children caused them to transfer their booking to the Titanic's second class. On April 10 the Laroche family took the train from Paris to Cherbourg in order to board the brand new liner later that evening.

"Joseph - who is thought to have been the only black passenger on the Titanic - died in the sinking but his family were saved, possibly in lifeboat 14."

One of his family was 1 yr old Louise, who only died in 1998 and was, apparently, one of the last 8 or so survivors.