Tragedy and Inequality: A Comparison of Seaborne Disasters.

The recent deaths of wealthy men aboard the Titan submersible and migrants on an overcrowded fishing trawler highlight the power of class and status, even in tragedy. The media coverage and international search efforts for the wealthy men contrast with the delayed assistance and scant media coverage for the migrants. The circumstances that placed them on their respective vessels reflect biases shaped by financial wealth and social standing. The poem "Home" by Warsan Shire offers a powerful response to questions about why migrants take such risks. The fact that lives can be consigned to memory or subject to erasure based solely on financial wealth and social standing is a tremendous tragedy and disservice to humanity.