In honour of Black History Month, contemporary Canadian artist of Nigerian descent, Benny Bing, has partnered with Roots for a limited-edition collection that really echoes Benny’s aim as an artist to shape how ethnicity and individualism are viewed while emphasizing a praising manifestation of Black women. We chatted with Benny to learn more about the range. —Noa Nichol
Hi Benny! Please tell us a bit about yourself to start.
I’m a self-taught contemporary artist, born and raised between Nigeria and Canada and currently residing in Toronto. My mother would say my creative journey truly began when I was a child and “decorated” my bedroom walls with crayons, and I might have to agree with her. I have always been creative, however I formally began to paint in 2015 after receiving acrylic paint as a Christmas gift. My work has evolved over the years and has become more about exploring ideologies of Blackness and beauty. Female empowerment is a theme in my work, I really despise the ways our society objectifies or erases Black femininity. As an ally, I thrive to create work that the world but most importantly Black girls and women need to see: strong, empowered and beautiful.
Congrats on your partnership with Roots! How did this collaboration come about, and what made it a perfect fit for you?
Thank you! I am very particular about who I collaborate with, and I was intrigued when the creative team at Roots reached out and asked if I would be interested in collaborating on a limited-edition release. It has been an exciting experience. Working and collaborating with an iconic Canadian brand like Roots has always been a dream of mine. I respect their core principles based on respect, appreciation of people, and supporting communities.
In terms of design, what was the inspiration behind your limited-edition Roots Studio: Drop 7 pieces?
I approached this project from the deep desire to celebrate blackness, our resilience and honor our self-determination. I have always felt that fashion is one of the most influential spaces to confront negative narratives about identity.
Can you speak more to the three elements of “colour,” “fearless” and “black fist”?
Colour is very important to me. As a black artist, my work not only celebrates colour but also explores how we connect with emotions stimulated by it. “Live life fearlessly” has always been my motto. Being fearless allows me to walk into the unknown with optimism and confidence, knowing that even if I run into obstacles, I will be able to overcome them. In spite of our existence in an oppressive culture that seemingly seeks to dehumanize us, we have fought to hold on to our true worth and value and the Black fist will always be a symbol of that strength, defiance, and resistance.
We hear there’s a charitable component to this team up, with a portion of Roots’ e-commerce sales going to the Black Opportunity Fund and Black CAP for the month of February; can you tell us about that?
Absolutely. Since the Black Lives Matter protests in the summer of 2020, we unfortunately have seen a great amount of “performative activism,” or posturing in which companies made statements but failed to take meaningful actions. When we agreed on the collaboration, I was adamant that Roots make a charitable contribution to organizations that are combating anti-Black racism. I’m proud to collaborate with a company that shows true allyship by supporting racial justice and is committed to taking tangible and measurable actions to embed equity and diversity into its organizational culture.
It’s Black History Month; what does it mean to you, and what do you think Canadians can do to celebrate and support?
Black History Month is about reflecting and honoring the immense contributions that Black people have afforded society overall and learning from the remarkable struggles that we as a community have endured. As Canadians, we should continue our focus on dismantling anti-Black racism and public discussions around racial justice on the burdens of Blackness, including unconscious bias, police brutality and systemic racism.
What is your advice for those of us who are not part of the Black community, but wish to gain more knowledge/understanding and be allies?
I think it is incumbent on all of us to keep learning and unlearning. Keep an open mind and actively listen. It is also important for our allies to show up using their privilege to address racial dynamics and partner with us to create a more racially just society.
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