Crab:  a crustacean with a broad carapace, stalked eyes, and five pairs of legs, the first pair of which are modified as pinchers. 

In the African- American community when people say “crabs in a bucket”, they are describing when someone is doing great things or being successful and others are pulling them down or waiting or their downfall.  

In this city, I personally see it every day.  

To the black communities in the City of Orange, when are we really going to start to empower and genuinely support each other?  

If one person does something, someone wants to compete with that individual.  

If one person is celebrated, we want to put others against that person. 

If someone is successful and doing well, we want to throw negative energy their direction. 

In the BLACK community, when does this end?  

We talk about let us be the change, let us be more supportive, let us empower each other, but we are not doing that.  

It is too much jealousy, envy, belittlement going on and we have become our own “bullies” against each other.

Instead of talking down on someone, there may be people you could learn from. The “crabs in a bucket” mentality will continue to be prevalent if we do not start changing the way we think, what we say, and what we do. 

I say this always, there is enough success for everyone to win.  If someone is doing a great job, congratulate your brother or sister and support them.  You stay complacent and idle in the way you treat people, PERIOD.  

 I want you to picture your own children in a bucket and they have just graduated from college or got the great job they wanted or went pro.  

Now just imagine all of their so-called friends and enemies pulling them down in that bucket.  

They have pulled your child down and dragged them all the way to the bottom.  Your child has lost everything they have worked hard for and simply because no one decided to support them or stand up for them.  

It is sad and this is what goes on in the black communities EVERYDAY, especially in this city.  

Black communities in the City of Orange, Texas, can we please change this stigma and incorporate a more positive avenue and learn to celebrate each other? It is long overdue.  

To the ones who walk the walk and talk the talk, continue to be that positive force our children, our people need this in the community.  

God bless you all.

 

Mary Ekene/ Activist for Bring Positivity Back/ Owner and Founder of Livol