What is BASL?

Black American Sign Language, or BASL, is a variety of American Sign Language (ASL) that developed within Black Deaf communities in the United States. Its history is closely linked to the country’s history of racial segregation in education. Before schools were integrated, many Black Deaf students had to attend separate schools, and in these environments, they developed their own distinct signing styles and traditions.

Due to this historical background, BASL exhibits characteristics that distinguish it from other forms of ASL. For example, BASL may use a larger signing space, two-handed signs, distinctive facial expressions, and vocabulary specific to the Black Deaf communities. Some of these features developed through generations of Black Deaf education and community life.

Furthermore, BASL is more than a different way of signing. It is an essential linguistic heritage that embodies the history, culture, and identity of Black Deaf people. Today, researchers and members of the Black Deaf community continue to document and preserve BASL. Indeed, studying BASL shows how the history and experiences of a community shape the evolution of a language.