By: Karen Cecile-Wallace, J.D.

Over the last three years, I’ve consistently heard the term “crabs-in-a barrel,” in conjunction with African American disagreement concerning the President Barack Obama administration and much more recently in conjunction with the Cornell West, Melissa Harris-Perry public conflict—a conflict which has its roots in their interactions at Princeton University.  The way this term has been used in the African American community is defined in the Urban Dictionary as follows:

In view the above stated definitions, to possess a crab-in-a-barrel mentality denotes serious psychological dysfunction, hence the label should not be casually thrown around.  I have to ask, is this term overused in the African-American community?  Is it often misused?  Does dissension and disagreement within the African American community automatically denote a crab-in-a-barrel mentality?

Nations disagree, Congress disagrees, scientists disagree, sports commentators disagree, experts disagree and believe it or not, even college professors at elite universities disagree.  The list goes on.  Human nature is always a part of the equation.

As with the rest of society, African-Americans have diverse backgrounds, values, beliefs, information processing methods and intellectual responses, all of which contribute to diverse viewpoints.  We represent the whole gamut of the human experience.  Are our sensibilities any less than the rest of society wherein we have no right to express individual differences and opinions?  Are our personal opinions not worthy of self-expression or exploration?

Consider this: a silent community is one that is doomed for extinction.

© 2012 Karen C. Wallace

Karen Cecile Wallace, J.D. is a Chicago attorney, legal consultant, adjunct professor and youth mentor.