The Crab Mentality

Former NBA legend Charles Barkley once said:

“There are a lot of black people who are unintelligent, who don’t have success…It’s best to knock a successful black person down ’cause they’re intelligent, they speak well, they do well in school, and they’re successful. It’s crabs in a barrel. … We’re the only ethnic group that says, ‘hey, if you go to jail, it gives you street cred.’”

The Crab Mentality is the analogy drawn between crabs in a barrel pulling each other down whenever one climbs to attempt escape, to individuals who are prevented from excelling away from the rest of their community. It usually occurs in places where institutionalised racism results in essentialised stereotypes, with “people of a certain race believing —even on a subconscious level— that they are inferior and should act in a certain way, and hence pull down and demean anyone who acts differently, rises to greatness, or escapes the social ghetto.” - TvTropes

It is similar to the Tall Poppy Syndrome that is found in societies all over the world but I think it differs in that Tall Poppy Syndrome does not limit societal progress, only individuals who excel too far ahead (and act it) are cut down. Crab mentality on the other hand further limits everyone in the community from even attempting to reach higher.

So why is Crab Mentality seemingly more prominent in minority communities? I think it is a combination of factors that stem from structural racism and strategic essentialism that creates a “self-hatred” which in turn leads to a form of negative self-aggrandisation. The structural racism prevalent in lower socioeconomic areas of the US within institutions such as education, law enforcement and finance have become ingrained in the lives of African Americans but they feel powerless to change it. The media also plays a significant role by perpetuating negative black stereotypes and symbolic violence which is so effective that people hate themselves, are persuaded that they are inferior or subordinate but feel powerless to change it. This hate is misplaced onto the self and others and I think it manifests in different ways that form the basis of the crab in a barrel mentality. For example, that because an individual is struggling, everyone else in their group must also struggle and anyone who excels only reminds the rest of their failures. Those in a better position than the rest don’t want to surrender what little power they have and success becomes a zero-sum game where even those who do reach the top kick others down instead of helping them up.

To add further to this “self-hate” is the acceptance and adoption of these negative stereotypes (whether conscious or not), and from these, certain rules are created to define “blackness”. Things such as higher education, corporate careers, following the law, being well presented and articulate thus become synonymous with “white imitation,” and a negative pride emerges where perceived “anti-white” traits are glorified. In order to be truly “black” one must be under-educated, act and dress a certain way, have “street-cred” and those who deviate from these rules are ostracised and accused of not “being black”. Those who strive to better themselves are seen as being “oppressor imitators” or “wannabe-white” and are often cut down by their peers in order to fit back in.

“When you’re black, you have to deal with so much crap in your life from other black people. It’s a dirty, dark secret; I’m glad it’s coming out.” - Charles Barkley

Further reading:

http://www.amaremet.com/we-must-kill-the-crab-mentality-so-african-americans-can-stand-up/

http://www.musedmagonline.com/2012/08/crabs-in-a-barrel-why-we-will-never-be-great/