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The Black Tax

by Malik Shakur

What is The Black Tax?The Black Tax is a podcast about the fine print attached to Black success in America.Produced, and hosted by Malik Shakur, the show moves through corporate America, entrepreneurship, entertainment, music, law, politics, and culture to explore what it means to be simultaneously Black, ambitious, creative, educated, and highly visible in rooms built to tolerate only one version of you at a time.Some conversations are about work. Some are about art. Most are about power.The podcast began with stories from corporate America and big law. It evolved into a broader examination of identity, performance, masculinity, class, creativity, and reinvention, and the strange negotiations required to move through American life while carrying all of those things at once.

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Episodes

  1. EP 145 Your Character Always Wins

    I let people think what they think, but my character always defends who I am!

  2. EP 144 But The Jewish Lawyer Told Me This...

    When you're the subject matter expert, but racism undermines your knowledge, all you have to do is wait because they always come back with a hat in hand

  3. EP 143 A Lie Always Ripples and Touches Everything In Its Way

    Sometimes, when a lie is told to hide the truth, you find out who's really your friend!

  4. TBT EP 142 Can you Grow Hair? WTF

    Draw lines, and when you do, stand your fucking ground.

  5. TBT EP 141 You Betta Don't

    When someone older warns you, and you blow it off, only to lose everything. That a crow that hard to eat!

  6. EP140 If You Don't Ask Don't Be Mad I Did

    People always get upset when they think they deserve the same thing but don't have the skills to get it.

  7. EP 139 Corporate Buck Breaking

    When you think you can talk to me any way you can, and I'm supposed to take it... You Betta Don't!

  8. EP 138 I Wish I Could... But I Won't

    When you're not good enough to hire, but good enough to pick your brain... #GTFOOHWTBS

  9. EP 137 Fuck these Motherfuckas Including Family

    Disrespect is disrespect regardless of whether it's friends and/or your family

  10. EP 136 You Could Never .... Motherfucka

    When the students try to outshine the master, they always lose.

  11. EP 135 Then They Slipped Me a Mickey

    The lesson I learned was almost being raped.

  12. EP 134 We Don't Do That Here

    I will always do what is right even if the motherfuckas around me won't!

  13. EP 133 Always Be You Even If Your Light Shines Brighter

    As we move through the thing called life, ALWAYS be you regardless of who doesn't like it, including your family, friends, and that other motherfucker

  14. EP 132 You Betta Don't Let Them People Tell You Shit About Your Success

    No matter what is going on in my Black life, I keep pushing forward because my success is measured by me, not what others think.

  15. EP 131 Baby These Elders Be Trying You Until They Get Put In Dey Place

    I've been told that I should respect my elders... But when my elders start with the disrespect, I'm matching that energy!

  16. EP 130 Oh Hell No!

    When my privileged white woman boss attacked me because I wouldn't have sex with her.

  17. EP 129 One Monkey Don't Stop No Show

    When you shine... SHINE

  18. EP 128 Dem White Folk Think We's Stupid

    Your work should always be acknowledge. Never lose hold of your work and NEVER let anyone claim your intellectual property.

  19. EP 127 No Thank You, I Got It.

    White people always think Black people need a White Savor... We Do Not!

  20. EP 126 Nigger? No The Fuck You Didn't!

    When my boss call me a Nigger during a deposition...that part.

  21. EP 125 He Who Love, Love's You With Your Dirt.

    The moment you discover you and live in your truth, you will see who really love you for you.

  22. EP 124 Wisdom Is Long-Term Recognition

    Your life's work will always be the wisdom you earn and will come to rely on.

  23. EP 123 Certainity Is Often Emotional Laziness

    Only the fool never doubts. Don't be anybody's FOOL!

  24. EP 122 Your Habits Shape Your Character

    Every step you take adds to your character, including the wrong ones and the ones that made no damn sense

  25. EP 121 Love is what you practice, not what you promise.

  26. EP 120 When They Thing Y'all Are The Same But Realize Y'all Not

    Fake and Phony a'int where its at. Being your true self is!

  27. EP 119 Your Nervous System Perfers Familiar Pain Over Unfamiliar Peace

    Our bodies specifically our nervous system, prefer comfort over discomfort ease over pain, but you have the question, why do you go back to a place in the past just to avoid the present in the future

  28. EP 118 Most conflict is two wounds arguing.

    Everyone wants to be heard, seen. and understood. But when two people are arguing, it's always the wounded who speak the loudest.

  29. EP 117 Neglect is a silent form of violence.

    Silence can starve louder than hunger, and when you starve your wants, needs, and desires, you forget who you are.

  30. EP 116 Children Inherit What Parents Refuse to Face

    At some point, you gotta walk away from the family drama or continue being a part of it.

  31. EP 115 You become what you rehearse internally

    Just so were clear their are no fucking over night success stories. Every story starts with an idea and the grind to make ot happen, that's the work, that's the rehearsal.

  32. EP 114 Most people fear wasted life more than death

    Most people, if not all people, fear accomplishing nothing in life, but that only happens if you fear the unknown. Fear is the thing that stops you, not your ability to do whatever you want to do!

  33. EP 113 Healing feels boring before it feels peaceful

    Change is slow, it's steady. At times it's boring as fuck, but sticking to it will always bring you peace!

  34. EP 112 You Don't Become What You Want Without Training

    Everything you want to do requires training, and in that training, you gain the skills to do what you been wanting to do.

  35. EP 111 Attention is your most valuable currency

    Your attention is one of your most valuable commodity you have to become the person you want, and need t be.

  36. EP 110 Boundaries are not cruel, they're Clarity.

    Some of us think when we set a boundary we're being cruel, not true what we are doing is stopping the harm to our mind body sprit and soul.

  37. EP 109 You Teach Without Speaking

    The rhythm of being Black is the ability to convey emotion, thoughts, and you're working my last nerve without saying a word. That's your superpower in every room, classroom, and/or boardroom.

  38. EP 108 Truth matures slowly but lasts longer than lies.

    Y'all want to know something about the Truth? Truth always matures slowly but that bitch will lasts longer than lies.

  39. EP 107 Lessons Repeat Until Learned

    They say a hard head makes for a soft behind and some of y'all need to get your shit together... me too

  40. 106 The Body Keeps Every Receipt

    The body keeps every receipt as reminder, and warning system to protect you from your self and others.

  41. EP 105 Stillness is intelligence, not weakness

    When you learn to sit with yourself, you begin to know how to become the person you were meant to be!

  42. EP 104 Your Intention

    Your intention is what's matter... Not what people thought your intentions were.

  43. EP 103 You Need To Apologize To Yourself

    The hardest apology anyone will ever have to make is thw apology to yourself.

  44. EP 102 I Pressed On

    Depression Respelled = I PRESSED ON

  45. EP 100 Staying In A Situation To Long

    Staying in a situation that may be uncomfortable is the medicine you need to rid your mind, body, and soul of that situation.

  46. EP 99 Prayers are easy; it's having faith in the work that is the difficulty.

    Praying for what you want is always important, but if you don't believe in the work and have faith in your ability, what you want won't happen.

  47. EP 98 You Can't Heal around those who trigger your pain.

    You can't heal around those who trigger your pain.

  48. EP 97 Wisdom comes from the lessons that experiences taught you

    Wisdom is not read, wisdon is learned.

  49. EP 96 RESPECT Do you understand it!

    So many of us want respect but most don't have a clue to what respect is.

  50. EP 95 You are not responsible for people's version of how they see you. That's how they control you.

    You are not responsible for people's version of how they see you. That's how they control you.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

What is The Black Tax?The Black Tax is a podcast about the fine print attached to Black success in America.Produced, and hosted by Malik Shakur, the show moves through corporate America, entrepreneurship, entertainment, music, law, politics, and culture to explore what it means to be simultaneously Black, ambitious, creative, educated, and highly visible in rooms built to tolerate only one version of you at a time.Some conversations are about work. Some are about art. Most are about power.The podcast began with stories from corporate America and big law. It evolved into a broader examination of identity, performance, masculinity, class, creativity, and reinvention, and the strange negotiations required to move through American life while carrying all of those things at once.

HOSTED BY

Malik Shakur

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Black Tax have?

The Black Tax currently has 144 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is The Black Tax about?

What is The Black Tax?The Black Tax is a podcast about the fine print attached to Black success in America.Produced, and hosted by Malik Shakur, the show moves through corporate America, entrepreneurship, entertainment, music, law, politics, and culture to explore what it means to be simultaneously...

How often does The Black Tax release new episodes?

The Black Tax publishes regularly with 144 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

Where can I listen to The Black Tax?

You can listen to The Black Tax on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts The Black Tax?

The Black Tax is created and hosted by Malik Shakur.
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