Theatre Boycott Upstairs Right, 1959

Robert V. Barritt, artist's statement

Comments made to Jennifer Hind on January 8 and 27, 2009

The social climate of the time

Having had the opportunity of going to Canada to further my education and art studies (the only one of five children to do so), I had the chance to view life 'off the Island' and perhaps see Bermuda in a different light. Until then, having grown up in Bermuda, I accepted segregation as the norm. It was not an immediate change of thinking, but part of a gradual maturing.

Upon graduating from Mt. Allison University in 1950 with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, I returned to Bermuda to go into the family business, John Barritt & Son, with my father Fred G. Barritt and brother Leon G. Barritt. Around this time (1950-51), I heard of a group of young black people playing basketball each weekend at the Prospect Gym. I decided this could be my small step or contribution towards changing some of the barriers between the races. I was accepted and played with the group who were coached by a US serviceman. That was how I met Quinton Edness along with a bunch of other black Bermudians. I also had the advantage of working in the soft drinks business that took me to all areas of Bermuda.

In 1972 while canvassing in Pembroke East Central, a gentleman I met said, "Barritt was the first white Bermudian I ever saw play a sport with blacks." In 2008 Quinton Edness told me how encouraged he was by my playing; Lowdru Robinson told me the same.

It bothered me to know that people could not sit where they wished to in certain movie theatres. I was not a first hand witness of the boycott in 1959. At its height I was in Trinidad attending a Coca-Cola seminar for the Caribbean region. On my return I read all the local papers pertaining to the boycott. What impressed me most was 1. the boycott was well-organised, 2. it was very well supported, 3. it was non-violent and orderly.

Charles Lloyd Tucker and I were close friends and met often to discuss art and what was going on in Bermuda. He would report on the life at the Berkeley Institute where he taught, and I would contribute what I knew about the business area of Bermuda.

The boycott appealed to both of us as artists and we both decided to tackle it. He was going to take an abstract approach to the subject 'A Storm in a Teacup' based on the remark made by the chairman of the theatres' Board of Directors; mine was to be semi-abstract. Both of the paintings were exhibited in 1959 and the early 1960s without any comment being made on the social and political message depicted.

I was personally thrilled and pleased to discover later that Stan Ratteray had been the main organiser and that David Critchley had made a significant contribution. Both were graduates of Mt. Allison University where I and many Bermudians attended.

Many of the boycott group I have subsequently got to meet, and several in particular I think made a significant contribution to Bermuda, not only during the boycott, but also later in the push for Universal Adult Suffrage.

The painting itself

In the hand [of one of the central figures] is a pound note. I was trying to convey the idea that he has the price of admission but still can't go upstairs. The two central figures are not arguing, but discussing with each other [expressing frustration about] the fact they have the money, so why can't they go upstairs.

The circle is a reference to the ticket booth and the hole through which the cashier would speak to the patrons.

The policeman looking on is dressed in the khaki uniform of the day, much more military in appearance than today's policeman's uniform. It was the Commission after the riots that suggested the police get rid of that style of uniform and switch to the 'bobby style' hats.

The signs in the background read "Down with segregation. Boycott theatres." I was really trying to depict the crowd being orderly and generally what was going on.

At my age, after so many years, I feel disappointed that we haven't made further headway in becoming united as a people.