Black tax still exists.

The term' black tax' is the money that black individuals, particularly professionals and high earners, give to their parents, siblings, or other family members out of duty or a deeply entrenched sense of family responsibility.

Considering the systemic disadvantages thrust upon black people in South Africa (the legacy of apartheid and colonisation), young black people are often expected to financially uplift their families while still expected to provide for themselves.

We can all agree that the 'black' tax affects almost every black South African daily:  From the children who build homes for their parents to the firstborn who funds their younger sibling's education and the students who misuse bursary funds to make sure there is food on the table in their households – it is a cultural matter, and is often a taboo subject.

Most black individuals start working at a young age, expected to become "deputy parents" – taking on the responsibilities of an adult but still seen as a child.  We are often viewed as a saviour with hopes of delivering the family from poverty.

Ultimately, this kind of tax results in a depressing outcome: the abandoned hopes and dreams of young black people denied the opportunity to pursue our passions.

Many people have no choice but to prioritise their family obligations over their wants. Some of us must put our siblings through school before we can pursue our postgraduate studies.

It's no secret that black parents want their kids to major in something that would one day bring them a good salary.

Often, they have already anticipated that their child's salary will be able to cover them financially for their future. Not just your parents or relatives but other members of our community (even religious officials) have been known to guilt trip people.

Living up to your family's expectations might lead you to debt. Unfortunately, even with society's awareness of this dream-shattering phenomenon, we continue to judge people we believe "go overboard" or "don't contribute enough" to their families.

Is there no way to determine if a given amount is excessive or insufficient?

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‍How does one handle 'black' tax?

While one cannot cure all the world's ills, there are some practical ways to deal with family members requests:

• Be truthful about your financial status and ability to make ends meet. Your help should be realistic and not compromise your happiness and peace. Prioritise conversations about your financial situation with those whom you support. Transparency is key on this journey.
• Being honest with others about your finances will also help you maintain your financial boundaries. Setting boundaries will improve relationships with family members. You can only pour so much into someone's cup without emptying your own. Make sure there is a communicated understanding of any agreements or limits.
• You should be prepared to 'play the villain' when enforcing financial boundaries. Not everyone will be happy with your boundaries. It's almost an expected human reaction when someone asserts themselves. Family members or loved ones will react, often leaving people feeling like they are the problem. Remind yourself of this—you aren't the enemy!
• People will accuse you of not having "Ubuntu": asserting that you lack humanity. You may feel accused of not caring about your people. However, there is no community without the individuals who sustain it. It's true that our culture values community, but it shouldn't be at your expense.

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