https://www.polity.org.za
Deepening Democracy through Access to Information
Home / Author Interviews RSS ← Back
Financial
Financial
financial
Close

Email this article

separate emails by commas, maximum limit of 4 addresses

Sponsored by

Close

Article Enquiry

Black Tax: Burden or Ubuntu? – Niq Mhlongo

Close

Embed Video

Black Tax: Burden or Ubuntu? – Niq Mhlongo

Editor Niq Mhlongo & contributor Outlwile Tsipane discuss their book 'Black Tax: Burden or Ubuntu?' (Camera & editing: Darlene Creamer)

14th October 2019

ARTICLE ENQUIRY      SAVE THIS ARTICLE      EMAIL THIS ARTICLE

Font size: -+

‘The real significance of this book lies in the fact that it tells us more about the everyday life of black South Africans. It delves into the essence of black family life and the secret anguish of family members who often battle to cope.’ – Niq Mhlongo

A secret torment for some, a proud responsibility for others, ‘black tax’ is a daily reality for thousands of black South Africans. In this thought-provoking and moving anthology, a provocative range of voices share their deeply personal stories.

Advertisement

With the majority of black South Africans still living in poverty today, many black middle-class households are connected to working-class or jobless homes. Some believe supporting family members is an undeniable part of African culture and question whether it should even be labelled as a kind of tax.

Others point to the financial pressure it places on black students and professionals, who, as a consequence, struggle to build their own wealth. Many feel they are taking over what is essentially a government responsibility.

Advertisement

The contributions also investigate the historical roots of black tax, the concept of the black family and the black middle class.

In giving voice to so many different perspectives, Black Tax hopes to start a dialogue on this widespread social phenomenon.

 

ABOUT THE EDITOR

Niq Mhlongo is an award-winning novelist, writer of short stories and screenplays (for radio and television), as well as a travel journalist. His fiction, which includes the novels Dog Eat Dog (2004) and After Tears (2007), has received critical acclaim and has won or been shortlisted for a number of literary awards. His work has also been translated into several languages, including French, Dutch, German, Spanish and Italian. Mhlongo has been a writing fellow at a number of institutions around the world. Most notably, he was invited to participate in the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa.   

 

Black Tax: Burden or Ubuntu? is published by Jonathan Ball Publishers

EMAIL THIS ARTICLE      SAVE THIS ARTICLE ARTICLE ENQUIRY

To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Comment Guidelines

About

Polity.org.za is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Engineering News
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa

Read more

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Polity.org.za is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options
Free daily email newsletter Register Now