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pebi_books's review against another edition
4.0
The book is a collection of essays from different authors relating/regarding the 'Black tax' topic and what each person thinks of it basically.
Each author has a story to tell and each story even though somewhat similar in motive to many others, are unique to each family/individual. Some would believe it to be a burden while others would see it as a continuation of a legacy to keep the African family going. It's ubuntu to some and a burden to others.
Some authors are also recipients of said black tax and like most recipients they also would have to contribute back by helping the next generation after them etc.
The stories were entertaining and I treated them as short stories because each somewhat became such. You get an in-depth understanding of where they come from with their arguments.
Black tax, though the word is somewhat unfair to the course is what almost every black person/family goes through. We need the one successful individual to help pull us out of the pit of poverty and into the world of possibilities. It's an investment you hope would be a success but at times it isn't but that doesn't mean you should keep investing in others.
It is who we are as a black nation.
Ubuntu.
Each author has a story to tell and each story even though somewhat similar in motive to many others, are unique to each family/individual. Some would believe it to be a burden while others would see it as a continuation of a legacy to keep the African family going. It's ubuntu to some and a burden to others.
Some authors are also recipients of said black tax and like most recipients they also would have to contribute back by helping the next generation after them etc.
The stories were entertaining and I treated them as short stories because each somewhat became such. You get an in-depth understanding of where they come from with their arguments.
Black tax, though the word is somewhat unfair to the course is what almost every black person/family goes through. We need the one successful individual to help pull us out of the pit of poverty and into the world of possibilities. It's an investment you hope would be a success but at times it isn't but that doesn't mean you should keep investing in others.
It is who we are as a black nation.
Ubuntu.
sipho_md's review
4.0
A collection of reflections from various South African writers and artists on the notion of "black tax". While the definition of that term may differ slightly, the general consensus is that black tax refers to the monetary (or sometimes non-monetary) support that is rendered by the black working class to less well off family members. I guess the "tax" part intimates that often this is seen as an obligation and a necessary corollary of the legacy of colonialism and apartheid.
The book felt like a family meeting. The stories of people's upbringings and current situations are heart-wrenching, but familiar. As a Zimbabwean living in "the diaspora", I could relate to the tension and worry about the welfare of parents and younger siblings.
Although the views of the contributors differ, most draw the distinction between family support and exploitation. But ultimately, being able to have a conversation about "black tax" is a privilege. Whether you're complaining about it being a burden or accepting it as an honourable duty, that its a pertinent topic means that you are in a financial position better than most, regardless of how meagre your contributions may be.
The book felt like a family meeting. The stories of people's upbringings and current situations are heart-wrenching, but familiar. As a Zimbabwean living in "the diaspora", I could relate to the tension and worry about the welfare of parents and younger siblings.
Although the views of the contributors differ, most draw the distinction between family support and exploitation. But ultimately, being able to have a conversation about "black tax" is a privilege. Whether you're complaining about it being a burden or accepting it as an honourable duty, that its a pertinent topic means that you are in a financial position better than most, regardless of how meagre your contributions may be.
soafricane's review
3.0
Heart-reaching stories. The debate within is whether or not to term helping out black families and intra-community financial support as ‘black tax’ or Ubuntu.
Both sides were argued rather well with more contributors in endorsement of the Ubuntu motive.
Both sides were argued rather well with more contributors in endorsement of the Ubuntu motive.
charliebnl's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
The more stories we explore, the more we understand the depths of colonisations’ impact on society. Black Tax is a concept that should it exist. Helping out family shouldn’t be a burden.
But the far reaching tentacles of racism structures turns kindness into duty into expectations into burdens.
From pay disparities, to education barriers, to location disadvantages, there are a myriad of ways in which the black body is kept down and out.
This collection of essays on people’s personal experiences was enlightening, however it became repetitive whenever they explained / defined black tax and it’s origins.
I’d have preferred the essays to be strictly the authors’ personal experiences and the definitions to have been covered up front once.
However, as overall I found myself learning about things that I’d never considered such as why STEM subjects remain inaccessible to the vast majority of this country- an issue of affordability rather than capacity; I felt that this book was an important read if you just skim over the definitions in the essays that included them.
But the far reaching tentacles of racism structures turns kindness into duty into expectations into burdens.
From pay disparities, to education barriers, to location disadvantages, there are a myriad of ways in which the black body is kept down and out.
This collection of essays on people’s personal experiences was enlightening, however it became repetitive whenever they explained / defined black tax and it’s origins.
I’d have preferred the essays to be strictly the authors’ personal experiences and the definitions to have been covered up front once.
However, as overall I found myself learning about things that I’d never considered such as why STEM subjects remain inaccessible to the vast majority of this country- an issue of affordability rather than capacity; I felt that this book was an important read if you just skim over the definitions in the essays that included them.
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