South Africa’s dark history of colonialism and apartheid continues to have negative effects on black professionals in the democratic dispensation.
Poverty, a stubborn unemployment rate and rocket-high inequality continue to affect Africans, particularly young black people in the townships and villages across the country.
With the current democratic government failing to address these socio-economic ills, those who have the financial means in the form of having jobs or owning businesses are ‘compelled’ to take care of those who are unable to financially take care of themselves.
The result of that gave birth to Niq Mhlongo’s latest offering titled Black Tax- Burden or Ubuntu.
In this latest offering, Mhlongo through numerous contributions made by different respected authors and journalists such as Dudu Busani-Dube, Mohale Mashigo, Fred Khumalo, Angela Makholwa and many others dissects and debates this phenomenon of ‘Black Tax’.
While the title of the book might suggest that the debates throughout the pages might be in a simplistic form of yes or no format in answering whether ‘Black Tax’ is a burden or an act of ubuntu.
However, that is not the case.
Readers are taken through different aspects of this phenomenon, what caused it, who should be held accountable for it and solutions on how black professionals can fulfil their ‘Black tax’ obligations while finding ways create their own wealth.
The debates also question whether the term itself is appropriate.
Mzuvukile Maqetuka in his contribution argues that ‘I believe we need to develop a new definition free of negative connotations and one that will reflect this phenomenon’s true origin, cause and real intention.’
Mhlongo and his legions of contributors in this book have successfully created a platform for young and old black professionals to honestly open up about whether taking care of their less fortunate members of their immediate and extended family is a burden or a necessary act of ubuntu.
After perusing through the pages of this book, the reader will surely have a different view or a position about the ‘Black tax’ phenomenon, whether the previously held view was a negative or positive one, there is an expected change of an attitude after going through the book.
This is a must-read book, especially for beneficiaries and also for those who are fulfiling this obligation at the end of every month.
Upon finishing reading this book, I conducted a little survey to my fellow black professionals about whether they feel tormented or they’re happy with paying ‘Black Tax’.
The results of my survey showed that many people still have a negative perception about this phenomenon and that is purely on how it has been negatively branded, which is why this book is a good source of education for every black person.
Get a copy of Black Tax- Burden or Ubuntu from Raru