₦airaland Forum

brain54:
Black tax, there is a term for everything nowadays...


Anyways, I think it has it's origin from our (African) cultural background from communal lifestyle.

I don't think it's necessarily a bad concept. As it's mostly the excess earned that is used to cater for family. Where it becomes a burden is when one begins to struggle to meet such responsibilities.

Many Africans have embraced the western concept of "me, myself and I" but originally we had our communal way of living where everyone looked after each other.

I think most of our old ways of doing things shouldn't be eroded completely in the race to become Westernised rather modifications should be applied where applicable and necessary.


I have a lot of things to say about the Chinese and sticking to and modifying their traditional ways of doing things and how well it has worked for them.

A country or continent that throws away it's cultural identity and original ideology in embrace of foreign cultural norms hardly progresses!

Noblejohn32:
This black tax stuff is a conversation most African families are not ready to have. I personally know how far I would have gone in life not for black tax. [b]It's frustrating when you are not expecting help from anywhere but you're being drained on daily basis. [/b]Omoh, I'm near breaking point.

brain54:
Black tax, there is a term for everything nowadays...


Anyways, I think it has it's origin from our (African) cultural background from communal lifestyle.

I don't think it's necessarily a bad concept. As it's mostly the excess earned that is used to cater for family. Where it becomes a burden is when one begins to struggle to meet such responsibilities.

Many Africans have embraced the western concept of "me, myself and I" but originally we had our communal way of living where everyone looked after each other.

I think most of our old ways of doing things shouldn't be eroded completely in the race to become Westernised rather modifications should be applied where applicable and necessary.


I have a lot of things to say about the Chinese and sticking to and modifying their traditional ways of doing things and how well it has worked for them.

A country or continent that throws away it's cultural identity and original ideology in embrace of foreign cultural norms hardly progresses!

Dpsychologist:
Let’s be brutally honest — Black Tax is slavery dressed up as culture.

For those unfamiliar, Black Tax is the cultural expectation that once you start earning, your salary belongs not just to you, but to your parents, siblings, cousins — sometimes even uncles and aunties.
Sounds noble, right? But here’s the hard truth:

Many people in their 20s and 30s especially firstborns are stuck living like they’re still broke, not because they don’t earn, but because their family’s demands never end.
Everywhere in Africa, once you start earning, you’re automatically turned into the family’s ATM especially when not born with a silver spoon . It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out, if your salary is small, or if you’re struggling yourself — the moment you collect that paycheck, you owe everybody.

They call it “responsibility.” But let’s tell the truth:

It’s financial exploitation.

It’s entitlement disguised as love.

It’s one of the biggest reasons young Africans will NEVER break generational poverty.

The Trap

A graduate earns ₦70k.

₦20k to mum.

₦15k to dad.

₦10k to sibling.

Another cousin calls for school fees.

Uncle calls for “urgent 5k.”

At the end of the month, guess what’s left? Zero.
No savings. No investment. No future. Just endless poverty cycle.

And when you dare say “No,” you’re suddenly the wicked, ungrateful child.

The Irony

Here’s the painful part:

The same parents who drained their kids often never saved or invested when they were young.
They now dump the responsibility of their own financial failure on their children.

Instead of empowering the next generation, they enslave them with guilt.

And let’s be real — how many families use this money wisely?
At times, it goes into wasteful spending while the “breadwinner” suffers in silence.

The Hard Truth Nobody Wants to Hear

If African youth keep paying endless Black Tax, nobody will ever be rich.
One person cannot save a whole clan. Period.

👉 A child’s duty is not to fund laziness, poor planning, or entitlement.
👉 If you destroy your own financial future to please family, you will just create another generation of broke people.

The Conversation We Need

Should young Africans build themselves first before carrying family on their back?

Is saying “NO” selfish, or the only way to break free?

At what point does “support” turn into slavery?

Until we face the truth, Black Tax will keep Africa chained to poverty.

What’s your take?
Are we ready to break this culture, or are we too afraid of being called “selfish”?

missionmex:
Why associating bad things with black. Why not say redtax or whitetax why must bad things be associated with black?

drLammy:
Overtime i had serious thought about this whole black tax thing and the only thing i could conclude is the root foundation of the problem.
Aside poverty which has ravaged many african society, the black tax system stems from the mode of your own survival while growing up. You will agree with me often times our parents takes most responsibility for our needs till full adulthood, you could even see a full matured man or woman in their 30's still living with their parents or siblings in this clime which everyone look at as normal.
Imagine your parents/guardian taking hard loans selling their stuffs for your survival while you needed them the most
So come to think of it, when heavens now smile on you then you suddenly start getting money you want to abandon these people?
I believe thats why it comes with a level of entitlement and not gesture.
In comparison the western society has a form of system that takes care of their offspring ranging from access to credit cards, student loans e.tc .
You hardly get those sort of soft landing here which further puts pressure on your guardian.

In conclusion,even though I would say its not a good way of living but our system didn't give us that choice to make.
Also it would be necessary to only take care of those who had done the same when you needed them rather than rewarding deadbeats who had abandoned you in those times and it would be advisable to do it very cautiously.

brain54:
Black tax, there is a term for everything nowadays...


Anyways, I think it has it's origin from our (African) cultural background from communal lifestyle.

I don't think it's necessarily a bad concept. As it's mostly the excess earned that is used to cater for family. Where it becomes a burden is when one begins to struggle to meet such responsibilities.

Many Africans have embraced the western concept of "me, myself and I" but originally we had our communal way of living where everyone looked after each other.

I think most of our old ways of doing things shouldn't be eroded completely in the race to become Westernised rather modifications should be applied where applicable and necessary.


I have a lot of things to say about the Chinese and sticking to and modifying their traditional ways of doing things and how well it has worked for them.

A country or continent that throws away it's cultural identity and original ideology in embrace of foreign cultural norms hardly progresses!

Zidoh:
Tax is good and compulsory even Bible mention it but what are they using our tax for is the main things . You can’t be collecting tax and embezzling it . That’s not how it’s been done in other countries . Their Government make use of the taxes for the benefit of tax payers.

LoneSoldier:
I don't think the whites do what the blacks do, he is correct if he calls it blacktax, especially Nigerians they do it a lot.