Beverly Burgess is Queen Crab in the Bucket

Details

Category: Lifestyle/People

Published: Sunday, 22 June 2014 23:54

Written by Helen Balls

by Helen Balls
Willie Lynch ain't got nothing on the crab mentality. Beverly Burgess, queen crab of the crabs in the bucket, has proven that the crab mentality is well and alive. 

Definition: `Crabs in the bucket' is a way of thinking best described by:
"If I can't have it, neither can you."
"If I can't do it, neither can you"
"If I can't see the bigger picture, neither can you"
"If I can't be successful, neither can you"
"If I can't achieve more, neither can you"

The metaphor refers to a pot of crabs. Individually, the crabs could easily escape from the pot, but instead, they grab at each other in a useless "king of the hill" competition, which prevents any from escaping and ensures their collective demise.

The analogy in human behavior is that members of a group will attempt to "pull down" (negate or diminish the importance of) any member who achieves success beyond the others out of envy, jealousy, spite and/or resentment.

This term is broadly associated with shortsighted, non-constructive thinking people rather than a unified, long-term, constructive thinking people. This thinking is referred to as a crab mentality.

Well, the crab mentality is alive and well in District Five. Regina Hill, one of us, who lifted herself up from the trials and tribulations of growing up in Parramore. She ran afoul of the law as a young woman.

But what she has done in her life since that time is nothing less than incredible. She served this nation in the armed forces – the U.S. Navy.

She is 2nd vice commander of Amvets Post 30 in west Orlando, where she works on homeless outreach, among other issues. She is also active with the Central Florida Urban League, addressing youth violence and other problems. And, she became a nurse.

To top it all, she went out on her own with a smile on her face and knock on hundreds of doors to become city commissioner. Few gave her a chance, at first. But against all odds, she not only won; she won by a landslide.

And now the crabs are doing their thing. In fact, they started just about the time everyone realized that Regina Hill was winning. Suddenly her boat was over-run with supporters.

But even before the election, the district's #1 crab - Beverly Burgess – made an outlandish accusation against Regina Hill, saying Hill threaten and spit on her.

This is all odd considering that Beverly Burgess once supported Regina Hill. Burgess told the Orlando Sentinel, "[Hill] paid for the crimes in her past, and she wants to serve the people. She wants to bring resources down here."

So what happened? What changed her opinion of Hill? It can only be explained by a crab mentality.
As long as Regina Hill was safely in the bucket, Beverly Burgess supported her. But then again, no one thought she could win. But when the tides turned and Hill moved ahead in the polls. Beverly Burgess flipped her script.

Suddenly, Burgess felt that Hill must be stopped from getting out of the bucket. Yes, misery loves company.

Beverly Burgess reached out and grabbed Hill by the leg when she claimed that Hill threaten her and spit in her face. Yes, SPIT in her face. Not slapped, but spit in her face.

Now we must examine this from a hood perspective. Yes, this writer grew-up in the hood and knows a little bit about hood provocation and fights.

Some insults and threats can be overlooked. However, a wad of spit in the face is at the top of the list for a good old fashion ass whipping. Spit in my face and you die, or at least go home wishing you hadn't.

Beverly Burgess weighs roughly 180 pounds and stands taller than Regina Hill. And she claims that she allowed Hill (who is 110 pounds soaking wet) to spit in her face. Use your common sense from a hood perspective. Burgess says Hill spit in her face and that was it. Burgess did nothing to her. She didn't even spit back. Give me a break.

Beverly Burgess is no push over. She has a criminal record for violence. She has nine violent related arrests. Count them, Nine! They consist of domestic violence and repeat violence. Some cases are as recent as 2011.

And, this woman with a violent criminal past ask us to believe that a small woman like Regina Hill spit in her face and did not get slugged.

Why these accusations? I have looked at it from every side and it all comes down to one thing – a crab mentality.

Regina Hill is now the City Commissioner for District Five. She is out of the bucket. And, Beverly Burgess doesn't like the thought of it. She is either envious, jealous, spiteful or just resents the fact that Regina is bigger than she is – in her own mind.

The odd thing is that Regina Hill is not out of the bucket. She still lives in the bucket and further more she represents the bucket and is happy to do so.

Regina Hill does not think of herself as better than anyone. She loves being a product of Parramore and it looks as if she is doing a good job serving the people, even Beverly Burgess.

The sad thing is that crabs in the bucket don't hurt the person they think has gotten out of the bucket; crabs like Beverly Burgess only hurt us – as a people.

Willie Lynch ain't got nothing on Beverly Burgess.