Preserving Black American Sign Language

Franklin Jones, Jr., a lecturer in Deaf Studies at BU Wheelock, is the author of a new book, Learn Black American Sign Language: A History and Complete Beginner’s Guide with Over 200 Words and Phrases. With this book, Jones takes inspiration from the history and representation of Black American Sign Language (BASL) to both educate readers and to preserve the language.  We sat down with Jones to learn more about why he wrote Learn Black American Sign Language and what he sees as its significance for the BASL community. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Franklin Jones, Jr.: When I wrote the book, I was not intending it to be used to teach sign language. What I wanted was for people to learn, to understand, and to be able to enter different communities with the understanding that they were exposed to something. I want people to be mindful, to be open to difference when they encounter a new sign language. Franklin Jones, Jr.: Black American Sign Language is a language. It has regional identities, but I want people to understand that there’s a history behind it that’s still active—it’s alive and well. Black American Sign Language is not just about movement of hands. It’s about people, community, access to education, access to language, systems of oppression. It’s a whole list—sticky topics embedded within this one idea. Franklin Jones, Jr.: Black American Sign Language is still alive, but it’s also rooted in generations of people who would use it, right? And when you have those generations of people who are no longer gathering or no longer together, certain features of Black American Sign Language get lost. And then the dominant language, which you may see more often—what White Deaf Americans may use—is often the default. So that legacy of Black American Sign Language doesn’t get passed on. The risk is the community. The risk is the language being lost. So, it needs to be an ongoing dialogue, and those that criticize it as a language need to be challenged. Otherwise, the language will go away. Franklin Jones, Jr.: Most people don’t realize that the book is not just for Black people or Black Deaf people. It’s for anyone who’s interested in learning, anyone who’s interested in education, anyone who is interested in interpreting. It is not only for black people, deaf or not.And the book is for anyone—students of American Sign Language, individuals who are motivated and inspired to work with children, interpreters, educators, all of you and anyone, regardless of age. Preserving Black American Sign Language