First The Black Tax Then The After Tears Party

Poetry

This poetry collection entitled First The Black Tax Then After Tears Party is about a practice in South Africa amongst some Africans and Coloreds families who party after burying their loved ones.

This practice is said to have started in Soweto. Amongst Africans it′s unheard of to publicly celebrate death of a sibling, relative, enemy or neighbor. Some of the death celebrated is because the person was killed in crime or through witchcraft. Those who celebrate have gain in wealth through life cover insurance policies, burial clubs, village burial contribution, properties and assets.


While we talk about the After Tears Party and Black Tax we study the scriptures to know that death will lose its victory.

1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

We find parents who secretly sacrifice their children for wealth, power and fame. It is not something new because we find the Old Testament where parents sacrificed their children to the god Moloch.

Some children secretly sacrifice or hire assassins to kill their parents for wealth, power, fame and inheritance.

We read from the following scriptures:

Luke 21:16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.


Those who celebrate the death of their enemies forget that they will also face death. Our prayers should be for the salvation of their souls so that they can repent from this sinful practice.

Isaiah 38:18 For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

Here in Isaiah 38:18 we see that these people who kill others are not celebrated by death which they have brought upon others.

Black Tax is a challenge in many families in South Africa and Africa. Where the first born or the intelligent child is given the burden by the parent/s to help raise his/her siblings financially and through house chores. This Black Tax child has to be understanding and have to do without many material things. When the Black Tax child is the first born he/she is responsible for the house chores, taking care of his/her siblings.

In this book I also wrote about challenges of the challenges and rejection of the middle child of which I′m one of them. Middle children are given attention by their parents only when they achieve something great. Usually we are not given any attention.

I also wrote about a poor man whom people did not bother to know his name. As the Bible says a poor man his neighbor does not know his name. These poems are about the disadvantage of the Black Tax and glamorous African funerals. I also wrote about paupers who are buried and kings. The person is poor all his/her life but the funeral costs over R100 000.