Internet moved by Big Brother stars’ black tax conversation

by Sergio Miller

Fans of one of Africa’s popular reality series, Big Brother Mzansi were all surprised when the stars of the show engaged in a conversation that touched on an issue that several black people experience – black tax.

According to financial investment company – Investec, black tax is a term for financial support. This is when young black professionals are obliged to provide for their parents, siblings and extended family members on a continuous basis, outside of their living expenses.

It also acts as some form of payback for the sacrifices made by family members.

In one of the latest episodes of Big Brother, two of the stars Mpumi and Jareed spoke about how the responsibility of providing for one’s family and extended family can become a bit stressful and prevents one from living your own life.

In a clip making its rounds on social media, Jareed adds: “It’s quite crazy that we have to go through that. Even where I worked everybody was looking after their sister or their sister’s child, it is like you work for them bro.

“Which is crazy because our foundation doesn’t start at zero it starts at a negative, then when you hit thirty (year-old) then you start at zero.”

Later Mpumi shared that what he was referring to was called black tax.

She later explained that she doesn’t blame her parents, and says that they have sacrificed a lot throughout the years.

Later fans of the show shared their opinions, expressing how impressed they were with the deep conversation.

One user wrote: “’Our lives don’t start at zero, it starts at a minus.’ Felt.”

Another wrote: “Mpumi and Jareed talk black tax. I really liked this conversation, something a lot of us can relate to #bbmzansi.”

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