The Six

The Titanic sank in 1912, leaving only 705 survivors. Among them were six Chinese men whose stories were forgotten until now. Unlike other survivors, they were denied entry to America due to the Chinese Exclusion Act, similar to policies in Canda at the time. When Lee Bing, Fang Lang, Chang Chip, Ling Hee, Ah Lam, and Chung Foo were turned away, their stories were lost to history, while the stories of every other survivor of Titanic became known. Director Arthur Jones leads his research crew through years of fact-checking in China, Canada and beyond, in order to meticulous research and uncover the untold lives of these men. The film shifts its focal point from the fascinating facts regarding their escape from the Titanic itself (James Cameron, an executive producer, admits they inspired the iconic rescue in his 1997 blockbuster), to the generational legacy of their families and lives they built in its wake. Masterfully intertwining the history of North American immigration policy at the time of the Titanic to contemporary views on race and citizenship today, The Six uncovers the sacrifices, discrimination and remarkable journeys these men faced, finally granting them their rightful place in history.

Whose stories are often told in history books, and whose are overlooked? Titanic is a world-renowned tragedy, and yet few people know the stories of the 6 Chinese Third Class passengers who survived what seemed impossible—until now. This riveting documentary invites students to question a story we think we all know well and, in doing so, learn how institutional racism and inequality in Canada and the United States in the early 20th century played a major role in shaping this history. The past shapes the present, and by learning about this history from different perspectives, students can look at the world around them, at Anti-Asian racism and Asian experiences today with fresh eyes. This film offers students a completely different perspective on the familiar history of Titanic, and a deeper understanding of Chinese migration that is foundational to North American society today.