(JH, SH, C-U)
Felix Pitterson speaks:
Editor's Note: The following text was transcribed from a taped interview carried out by the with Mr. Felix Pitterson, perhaps the single largest independent landowner in the Virgin Islands. While his name, fame and wealth clearly presented him a number of options relative to identity, it is clear that he viewed himself as a Black and a Virgin Islander, at least within the confines of this interview.
Well, two things...I never count. I may count the money was sent to the bank, but not the money I have. And I never figure how old I am. I'm not interested in my age. I feel young, good looking and if you don't believe it, ask this girl [pointing to a domestic] ask this girl [indicating another female who was present]. I never figured, honestly, my...because it's two things that you can lose immediately. It's what you got: your money and your age. Your age, your life. So, I never figure how old I am. People say I'm ninety three, eighty three, I don't give a damn, but I feel like fourteen.
And, as far as my history, I'm a bastard. You know what is a bastard? A bastard is a man born for...on an unmarried couple. My father was a White man and my mother was a Black woman. Of course, in those days .I'm sorry that I won't be able to take you to a little ...dream that I call it. I call it Eve...Adam and Eve. And before, as I tell you, [inaudible] I used to go every Saturday and Sunday and talk to older people about St. Croix and St. Thomas and so. And one of them took me up to the same place that I owns today...I didn't know at that time...And she told me all about that building. It's not a building; it's a piece of thing of about from here to here...
G.S. About...twelve feet?
... twelve. And they used to take care of the children there. The Slave ladies, girls used to go to the fields.They used to bring the children there. They used to allow another girl to take care of the children and have her children and some other children. And while she was there somebody would come enter with the master. The master was a White man and use to turn...take the same girl that was watching, use her for...you know... intercourse. And I was told that . And I own the property now.
G.S. You were told that by an older... ?
older person. And I got similar buildings. And I am the biggest landowner on St. Croix. When I say biggest...I bought pieces of land. Like today I own...seventeen hundred and forty...nineteen hundred and forty acres of land.6. Did not being Crucial born hinder Mr. Pitterson in his acquisition of land on the island, from what he says in the interview? And so therefore I ...beside that, as you know I retired from the United States Navy. And I was...
G.S. You went into the Navy when...
When I was a young boy. Eighteen years old.
G.S. Okay, and where were you at that time?
I was in San Juan. I happen to come from Culebra to San Juan. And they was enlisting people. And...we had to go to a place in San Juan. I was going to Cataño, and I went the wrong place. And a guy told me [to] go in there. And I went in there. And a guy told me [take] my clothes off. I was a boy. I took my clothes off. I was a big guy--a hundred and thirty-seven pounds. A man.
G.S. That's how you joined the Navy?
Yes. I don't like to say that because probably they won't like...In those days a Black guy in the Navy was like two, three places below a dog.
G.S. You were treated like dogs?
Well, real bad. They comes in, make you get up from your seat, Jim Crow you there. In Norfolk , Virginia, I slept Jim Crow there. I have to eat Jim Crow. Then I went to Europe. To France. And stayed there during the War. And, when we came from France, believe it or not: In all our second grade education I make Chief Petty Officer. It had two in the whole Navy. And I was one. And when I came back I was a Chief. I was third degree, but when it came to eat, I went to eat in the Chief place. And then, since I was senior Chief, I sit down in the front of the table. And at [inaudible] Buchanan came up and no one would sit down. And he says "General Clark, what happened? No one would eat and a...your White man wants to pay a servant." He say "Hi!" He knows that you couldn't answer that word in the Navy. You have to call a guy by his name. So, he say "hey", I didn't answer him. "Hey!" he came up, "I'm talking to you!" Then I stand up. "About face!" A lot of Navy people was there. He was talking ...he was telling me..."Hernan!" "Officer, of this section, I wouldn't have a nigger sitting in my table. "Forward, march!" Get Out! When I forward march outside, another officer came, higher than him, "Stop! About face! Forward, march! Take your seat at the table!" And he say: "That man just come from the War. You wasn't in the War! You are a reserve! And as long as I am here I wouldn't allow that.!"
...I have gone through hell for being Black. Another time I was in Brest, France. And I have a habit of all the time going by myself. And this time I went to a restaurant, and I was eating there, and two White guys see me.
G.S. Frenchmen?
White! Americans. With all my rank! Below my rank! And I was sitting down in there. One came in. And he say: "I know you are a Chief, but you sitting down in the wrong place. If you were in Georgia or Alabama you know you couldn't sit down there. The two French people were there and a woman who talk french was looking at me like to say I ain' doing nothing with he. Leave him alone! He say: "When I count two, if you ain' outa here you see what will happen to you!" So, he say, "one, two!" He come to me and he pull me out Boy, I don't know where the hell I get that strength. I hit that guy so hard. And he fall. And with him I hit the other guy. And that guy breathe like a horse...and he shit all over himself. The two...the French woman and French man, they came by and kissed me. Called the ambulance and took him out.
G.S. How did you decide to live on St. Croix
I'll be frank. One time I was... You're not the first one. Puerto Rican people have come...and ask me for an interview. I had a hemisfero hotel. [Dónde está el papel del hemisfero aquí? ] I had a hotel , a li'l hotel.
G.S. After you left the Navy?
I have a little hotel and the people used to come.
G.S. People from the Virgin Islands?
Yes, from the Virgin Isalnds. From Antigua. I was stationed in ...Antigua. And I know that I can't go naked in Antigua. And the people in Antigua, the old people that know me will clothe me. Because I was very strong. One time I was coming in a pickup in the Navy. And I find two Black women.
G.S. ...when you were in Antigua . . . two Black women laying in the road. . . And I stand up. I told the two English men. White. What's this? "Well, we're enjoying ourselves!"
G.S. Oh?
"We're enjoying ourselves! The two niggers got cowitch!"
G.S. What?
You know what's cowitch? So, I get up, I went inside. Took half of my clothes off. I wipe it. Pee on them. Wash it with my feet.
G.S. Was that a remedy that you knew of?
Yeah!
G.S. How did you know about that remedy?
Remember! I came from a small island. Hard. In Puerto Rico. Then the two White men try to [stop me from doing] it. I beat the hell out of them. There was a horse, and I took them hitting against the horse. And loose the horse and let the rope run. And I went in. And by that time was coming and took the English guy. He was . . . So they took me to the American Consul to report me. So, they called my commanding officer. And my commanding officer says "Chief, you are in big trouble!" . . . So I was taken to the English Consul. Big guy. And his wife and the family of the guy. So the Consul. . . the American Consul and the English Consul was together, the wife and the [inaudible]. And he say to me: "Well, why you done that?" I say, "I was coming in, and I saw these old ladies. Naked, on the hot road! And I try to help them!"
G.S. And on the ground?
And on the ground! Naked! And my officer said: "I WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING!!!"
QUESTIONS
1. What does Mr. Pitterson offer for proof of his eternal youth?
2. How does this informant make the connection between money and age?
3. In his definition of the word bastard does the informant show evidence of being a speaker of a language other than English?
4. What do Adam and Eve have to do with Pitterson's view of himself as a bastard?
5. Are you able to connect the old building referred to where slave girls cared for children and the present status of the same land, as Mr. Pitterson reflects on the matter?
6. This man was not born in the Virgin Islands and appears no to have been born on Puerto Rico either. Which island do you think was his original home?
7. What race does the informant appear to identify with as his own?
8. What does Pitterson mean when he declares: "It had two in the Navy. and I was one?"
9. Is it clear to you why Pitterson was addressed with the word "hey!"
10. In the situation Mr. Pitterson described in Brest, France, where would the two American bullies have had Pitterson eat his meal?
11. What does Pitterson mean when he says he can't go naked in Antigua?
12. What similarities do you see between the incident in Brest, France and that with the two women on the road in Antigua?
13.Do you characterize Mr. Pitterson's action in the two conflicts mentioned above as heroic or contentious?