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Subject: Re: "Sinners" To Debut On Max As First Show With "Black American Sign Language" Translation
Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2025 20:27:21 +1200
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On 2025-07-17 02:59:24 +0000, Arthur Lipscomb said:
> On 7/2/2025 9:58 AM, shawn wrote:
>> On Wed, 2 Jul 2025 16:22:07 -0000 (UTC), BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com>
>> wrote:
>>> On Jul 2, 2025 at 1:30:48 AM PDT, "Ubiquitous" <weberm@polaris.net> wrote:
>>>> On July 4th, the movie SINNERS will become the first show to be 
>>>> interpreted into "Black American Sign Language (BASL)," per a press 
>>>> release from Warner Bros.
>>>> 
>>>> The entertainment company described it as "a major step forward in
>>>> accessibility, representation, and visibility in streaming."
>>>> 
>>>> "BASL is a distinct dialect of American Sign Language (ASL) with its own
>>>> dynamic history and unique grammar, signing space, rhythm, facial
>>>> expressions, and cultural nuances," the release stated. "For the first 
>>>> time, the black deaf community will have streaming access to a more 
>>>> immersive experience in their language. Max subscribers, who sign in 
>>>> ASL but are unfamiliar with this dialect, will also be able to follow 
>>>> along with this interpretation."
>>> 
>>> Oh my god. They actually made sign language ebonics.
>> 
>> So this is something that didn't exist so there is no base of people
>> who know it.
> 
> I see this type of stuff posted in this group all the time and I 
> usually just ignore.  But I'm bored so I'm going to speak up.
> 
> Black Sign language has existed since the 19th century.  The reason it 
> exists is because White people refused to let Black people attend 
> schools with them.  This was called segregation.  One of the results of 
> segregation was separate schools for Black deaf people which resulted 
> in divergent sign language.

Still doesn't make it sensible though. They should have taught 
everybody in all the schools for the deaf the same US sign language*. 
Presumably they did all learn the same mathematics, spelling, etc. So 
why single sign language out as different versions?


* Of course, there will  now be a pile of nutty conspiracy theories 
that black deaf people were purposely taught a different version to 
"keep them in their place" ... or that black deaf people were taught a 
different version so they could keep conversations secret from their 
"white oppressors" ... or ...  :-\



> And yes, Black deaf people today still use Black Sign Language.  There 
> are many types of sign language in use today.  It's not just ASL. 
> Someone who learns to sign outside the United States would learn their 
> local sign language.
> 
> When I watch a movie either on disc or streaming, there are often 
> multiple language options available to accommodate a wide audience who 
> don't speak English.  And I don't think I've ever heard someone 
> complain about that until now.  And of course the complaint would be 
> targeted towards Black people.
> 
> Maybe next week someone will complain about French or Russian being 
> offered and call that "ebonies," but somehow I doubt it.