Prince Kaybee: 'Some family members make us their financial plan'

Prince Kaybee is getting real about "black tax". 

According to Investopedia, "black tax refers to the financial burden borne by Black people who have achieved a level of success and who provide support to less financially secure family members". 

The term originated in South Africa, but black Americans have also started using the term in recent years. 

Prince Kaybee says many black people are pressurised into paying black tax by family members who feel entitled to the support. 

The 'Gugulethu' hitmaker was responding to a video shared on Twitter about the topic. The footage is from a recent episode of the 'Unpopular Opinion' podcast featuring actor Jet Novuka.

Jet said that helping your family should not be seen as something negative, adding that you should uplift others when you are in a position to do so.

But Prince Kaybee says the conversation is "more idealistic than realistic" as some people use black tax as emotional blackmail. 

"If families were an utopia where there were no toxic and exploitative family members blackmail, guilt and to some degree force young people to fund their lifestyle then this would be true," he tweeted. 

Prince Kaybee added that many people are open to helping their families when they can, but some get greedy. 

"We all want to help our families and share what we have but some family members make us their financial plan. Plenty of young black kids live in depression and some commit suicide because they are made to feel worthless when they CANNOT give to greedy families," the 34-year-old said. 

ALSO READ: Have you ever heard of the term "Black Tax"?

Twitter users had mixed reactions to the discussion. Some agreed that helping your family should not be seen as a black tax. 

However, it is the people who take advantage of the situation who are the problem. 

"Entitlement is black tax, 'its month end send money, you afford a car it means you can send more money, you bought iPhone it means you can buy me a phone, you have a payslip open a clothing account for my kids' ngeke," one user wrote. 

Another user said people should not feel obligated to take care of other family members when their own well-being is at risk.

"Tax can be described as being 'a compulsory contribution to state revenue'. There is a difference between helping out your family within your means and black tax. Once it becomes compulsory/obligatory without due consideration for the providers' own wellbeing it is black tax!!" one man wrote. 

ALSO READ: Black Tax and how to deal with it

Some Twitter users said Prince Kaybee missed the point that Jet was trying to make. 

"You [are] changing what is being said here. From my understanding, you just making an excuse [for] not wanting to help. Some members of our families depend on us whether we like it or not," the tweep said. 

"Problem here is we all know where we come from. I mean, some when they start working, at home there isn't even a spoon or a bed for parents and you definitely wouldn't want your younger siblings to grow up in an environment like that. Unless you feel like helping out is black tax," a second person said. 

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Main image credit: Instagram/princekaybee_sa

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