Black tax trap: When family obligation leads to emotional and financial burnout

Black tax trap: When family obligation leads to emotional and financial burnout (Photo: iStock)

When Ruth Jebet moved to the United Kingdom six months ago, her goal was simple: pursue a master’s degree and widen her horizons. Unlike back home, the UK promised students the opportunity to take on part-time work to cover bills and stay afloat while studying. It sounded manageable, even hopeful. But reality set in quickly.

“In my class, only eight of us are from Africa, and four of them are already citizens here. The rest are from India, Pakistan, or they’re British nationals. During conversations, I started to notice something: people here casually talk about saving for holidays, buying a car, putting down a deposit for a house, or exploring new investments,” she shares.