Just as we’ve always had our ways of communicating with each other, the Black Deaf community has always had its own sign language. Now, “Sinners” is honoring that history by streaming the movie in Black American Sign Language (BASL). Why is this so important?
BASL differs from the standard American Sign Language (ASL) we see on television or in accessible public spaces. After Deaf schools were integrated, BASL was used less, but that was just in public. Today there are nearly 900,000 Black Deaf people in the U.S., and many of them still use both BASL and ASL.
When ASL was developed in the early 19th century, white students were taught finger spelling, lip reading and mouthing words. Black students who attended their own schools learned to use larger hand motions instead, taking up more space around their foreheads and using both hands.
These differences mattered because they honored our culture and ways of being together. They came to define what it means to be Deaf and Black. Younger generations now use social media to help preserve and teach the language.
Our community includes and transcends all walks of life. When we learn about communities within our community, we create connection, acceptance, and understanding. Supporting ALL community members is crucial because if all of us ain’t free, then none of us are.