By Tamlyn Canham
Ntokozo ‘K.O’ Mdluli is sharing his thoughts on ‘black tax’.
Black tax is money a person gives to their family once they start working.
It typically happens in poor black communities, and some family members feel entitled to the money.
K.O took to Twitter to ask his followers a question about the tax.
“Black Tax is not only a cancer in our black family system, can we also talk about the Black Tax we are subjected in some of our friendships/relationships? Equally burdensome,” he tweeted.
Black Tax is not only a cancer in our black family system, can we also talk about the Black Tax we are subjected in some of our friendships/relationships? Equally burdensome
— K.O (@MrCashtime) April 24, 2021
READ: Save up for rainy days with a tax-free investment account
Mixed responses
K.O’s followers had mixed views on the topic. One Twitter user said he saw ‘black tax’ as the ancestors’ way of helping families.
“I take this black tax thing like, your ancestors blessing your family through you…. Be grateful there’s nothing like black tax.”
I take this black tax thing like, your ancestors blessing your family through you…. Be greatful there's no thing like black tax
— Dumakazi (@MkubukeliNoko) April 24, 2021
Another tweep said ‘black tax’ is evil.
“Work hard so that your kids don’t need to support you. There also have lives to live. We pull each other down cause as soon as you have money ppl start asking for it and not paying back. Friends and family etc. Ain’t like you go into a room full of notes. Black tax is evil.”
Work hard so that your kids don't need to support you. There also have lives to live. We pull each other down cause as soon as you have money ppl start asking for it and not paying back. Friends and family etc. Ain't like you go into a room full of notes. Black tax is evil
— Rand Manipulator (@thacleodon) April 25, 2021
A third Twitter user said feeling entitled to someone’s salary is wrong.
“Black tax is not when you voluntarily help out at home but when you’re forced, coerced and blackmailed to it the same WAY SARS does. When someone feels entitled to your resources for whatever reason then give in their own peril.”
Black tax is not when you voluntarily help out at home but when you're forced, coerced and blackmailed to it the same WAY SARS does. When someone feels entitled to your resources for whatever reason then give in their own peril.
— ➡️𝕏 (@MrSuccess_P) April 24, 2021
But some did not agree. One Twitter user said ‘black tax’ does not exist, while another said it was simply a way to help poor family members.
“Black people generally are poor, when one succeeds there’s an expectation that life will be better for all. If you are black there’s a high risk that you will financially support people who are not your children in your lifetime. Till we are all out of poverty, we are all in red.”
Black people generally are poor, when one succeeds there's an expectation that life will be better for all. If you are black there's a high risk that you will financially support people who are not your children in your lifetime. Till we are all out of poverty, we are all in red
— Ncumi🇿🇦 (@Ncumisa_Tatani) April 24, 2021
