Signing Black in America (2021)
The story of Black ASL
This is the first documentary about Black ASL: the unique dialect of American Sign Language (ASL) that developed within historically segregated African American Deaf communities. Black ASL today conveys an identity and sense of belonging that mirrors spoken language varieties of the African American hearing community. The program highlights the different uses of space, hand use, directional movement, and facial expression, which are ways that Black ASL distinguishes itself as a vibrant dialect of American Sign Language. The African American Deaf community is now embracing their unique variety as a symbol of solidarity and a vital part of their identity.
Director: Neal Hutcheson, Danica Cullinan
Runtime: 28 min
Release Date: January 21, 2021
Language: English
Original Language: en
More Films by Director: Neal Hutcheson, Danica Cullinan
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Signing Black in America about?
- This is the first documentary about Black ASL: the unique dialect of American Sign Language (ASL) that developed within historically segregated African American Deaf communities. Black ASL today conveys an identity and sense of belonging that mirrors spoken language varieties of the African American hearing community. The program highlights the different uses of space, hand use, directional movement, and facial expression, which are ways that Black ASL distinguishes itself as a vibrant dialect of American Sign Language. The African American Deaf community is now embracing their unique variety as a symbol of solidarity and a vital part of their identity.
- Who directed Signing Black in America?
- Signing Black in America was directed by Neal Hutcheson, Danica Cullinan.
- How long is Signing Black in America?
- Signing Black in America has a runtime of 28m (28 minutes).