Learn Black American Sign Language: A History and Complete Beginner's Guide with Over 200 Words and Phrases -- Franklin R. Jones Jr, Hardcover

Discover the fascinating history and current use of Black American Sign Language, then bring it to life with your hands following photo-illustrated instruction.

Deaf history has been told primarily from a white-centered lens, pushing Black Deaf history into the background. However, today, Black signers are telling the hidden stories of Black Deaf people and celebrating their language, exposing their dialect to millions across the world. Learn Black American Sign Language shares the often overlooked details of its history. The book provides:

  • An introduction to Black ASL and the importance of understanding BASL
  • The history of BASL, from its origins in school segregation policies to its development among Black students, families, and communities
  • BASL today, its continual existence, and the influence of African American Vernacular English (AAVE)
  • Over 200 BASL signs, each accompanied with full-color photographs
  • And more!
Within the phrases and words in this guide, the author includes state and regional variations and Home signs. Home signs consist of signs learned specifically among a family or region that is not a part of the greater BASL dialect. Because much was lost in the years when BASL was not taught in schools, Black Deaf families had to fill in the holes with Home signs. Franklin originates from a region in South Carolina, and that is where the Home signs in the book derive from. Other BASL variations are from states including Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Alabama.

In recent years, Black TikTok creators brought attention to BASL when they advocated for more accessibility on the app, where they face additional discrimination due to their skin color. The hashtag #deaftiktok attracted more than 840 million views. Since then, BASL social media influencers and TikTok stars have begun to educate the public about BASL and its importance within the Deaf community and to Black signers. With more and more people becoming interested in learning Black American Sign Language, now is the perfect time to pick it up.

Learn Black American Sign Language is an accessible and interactive introduction to the dialect and its rich history and culture.

Author: Franklin R. Jones Jr
Publisher: Wellfleet Press
Published: 1/6/2026
Pages: 192
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.81 lbs
Size: 10.1" H x 8.2" L x 0.9" W
ISBN: 9781577154525

Check these out

As a Man Thinketh - the Original 1902 Classic (includes the Mastery of Destiny) (Reader's Library Classics) -- James Allen, Paperback AS A MAN THINKETH - THE ORIGINAL 1902 CLASSIC (INCLUDES THE MASTERY OF DESTINY) (READER'S LIBRARY CLASSICS) -- JAMES ALLEN, PAPERBACK

$10.65 USD

Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America -- Michael Harriot, Hardcover BLACK AF HISTORY: THE UN-WHITEWASHED STORY OF AMERICA -- MICHAEL HARRIOT, HARDCOVER

$35.50 USD

Think and Grow Rich: The Landmark Bestseller Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century -- Napoleon Hill, Paperback THINK AND GROW RICH: THE LANDMARK BESTSELLER NOW REVISED AND UPDATED FOR THE 21ST CENTURY -- NAPOLEON HILL, PAPERBACK

$11.00 USD

The Way of the Superior Man: A Spiritual Guide to Mastering the Challenges of Women, Work, and Sexual Desire (20th Anniversary Edition) -- David Deida, Paperback THE WAY OF THE SUPERIOR MAN: A SPIRITUAL GUIDE TO MASTERING THE CHALLENGES OF WOMEN, WORK, AND SEXUAL DESIRE (20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) -- DAVID DEIDA, PAPERBACK

$19.99 USD

Cursive Handwriting Workbook for Adults: Learn Cursive Writing for Adults (Adult Cursive Handwriting Workbook) -- Scholdeners, Paperback CURSIVE HANDWRITING WORKBOOK FOR ADULTS: LEARN CURSIVE WRITING FOR ADULTS (ADULT CURSIVE HANDWRITING WORKBOOK) -- SCHOLDENERS, PAPERBACK

$7.49 USD

Stone Stacking: Build Your Way to Mindfulness -- Christine Kopaczewski, Paperback STONE STACKING: BUILD YOUR WAY TO MINDFULNESS -- CHRISTINE KOPACZEWSKI, PAPERBACK

$10.95 USD

Baby Mozart: A Classical Music Sound Book (with 6 Magical Melodies) -- Little Genius Books, Board Books BABY MOZART: A CLASSICAL MUSIC SOUND BOOK (WITH 6 MAGICAL MELODIES) -- LITTLE GENIUS BOOKS, BOARD BOOKS

$12.99 USD

The Art of War (Deluxe Hardbound Edition) -- Sun-Tzu, Hardcover THE ART OF WAR (DELUXE HARDBOUND EDITION) -- SUN-TZU, HARDCOVER

$16.99 USD

The Food Counter's Pocket Companion, Sixth Edition: Calories, Carbohydrates, Protein, Fats, Fiber, Sugar, Sodium, Iron, Calcium, Potassium, and Vitami -- Jane Stephenson, Paperback THE FOOD COUNTER'S POCKET COMPANION, SIXTH EDITION: CALORIES, CARBOHYDRATES, PROTEIN, FATS, FIBER, SUGAR, SODIUM, IRON, CALCIUM, POTASSIUM, AND VITAMI -- JANE STEPHENSON, PAPERBACK

$9.95 USD

Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age -- Sanjay Gupta, Paperback KEEP SHARP: BUILD A BETTER BRAIN AT ANY AGE -- SANJAY GUPTA, PAPERBACK

$18.99 USD

Cursive Handwriting (Wipe Clean Workbook): Ages 5-7; Wipe-Clean with Pen -- Roger Priddy, Spiral CURSIVE HANDWRITING (WIPE CLEAN WORKBOOK): AGES 5-7; WIPE-CLEAN WITH PEN -- ROGER PRIDDY, SPIRAL

$9.99 USD

Hey, Mama! Tell Me Something I Don't Know -- Larkinroad, Paperback HEY, MAMA! TELL ME SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW -- LARKINROAD, PAPERBACK

$19.99 USD

The Art of War -- Sun Tzu, Hardcover THE ART OF WAR -- SUN TZU, HARDCOVER

$9.99 USD

Brain Games - Word Searches - Large Print (Red) -- Publications International Ltd, Spiral BRAIN GAMES - WORD SEARCHES - LARGE PRINT (RED) -- PUBLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL LTD, SPIRAL

$12.98 USD

Healing with Dmso: The Complete Guide to Safe and Natural Treatments for Managing Pain, Inflammation, and Other Chronic Ailments with Dimethyl Sulfoxi -- Amandha Dawn Vollmer, Paperback HEALING WITH DMSO: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO SAFE AND NATURAL TREATMENTS FOR MANAGING PAIN, INFLAMMATION, AND OTHER CHRONIC AILMENTS WITH DIMETHYL SULFOXI -- AMANDHA DAWN VOLLMER, PAPERBACK

$15.99 USD

Tai Chi For Seniors Over 70: Seated Tai Chi for Featuring Slow Supportive Exercises for Balance and Control -- Julian Oak, Paperback TAI CHI FOR SENIORS OVER 70: SEATED TAI CHI FOR FEATURING SLOW SUPPORTIVE EXERCISES FOR BALANCE AND CONTROL -- JULIAN OAK, PAPERBACK

$16.16 USD

The Prophet: Annotated Edition with Illustrations -- Kahlil Gibran, Paperback THE PROPHET: ANNOTATED EDITION WITH ILLUSTRATIONS -- KAHLIL GIBRAN, PAPERBACK

$11.00 USD

My First Book of Baby Signs: 40 Essential Signs to Learn and Practice -- Lane Rebelo, Paperback MY FIRST BOOK OF BABY SIGNS: 40 ESSENTIAL SIGNS TO LEARN AND PRACTICE -- LANE REBELO, PAPERBACK

$7.99 USD

Brain Games - Calm: Word Search Puzzles - Large Print -- Publications International Ltd, Spiral BRAIN GAMES - CALM: WORD SEARCH PUZZLES - LARGE PRINT -- PUBLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL LTD, SPIRAL

$12.98 USD

Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity -- Peter Attia, Hardcover OUTLIVE: THE SCIENCE AND ART OF LONGEVITY -- PETER ATTIA, HARDCOVER

$35.00 USD

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids about Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! -- Robert T. Kiyosaki, Mass Market Paperback RICH DAD POOR DAD: WHAT THE RICH TEACH THEIR KIDS ABOUT MONEY THAT THE POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS DO NOT! -- ROBERT T. KIYOSAKI, MASS MARKET PAPERBACK

$9.99 USD

The Axolotl Fact Book For Curious Kids!: Everything you need to know about the world's most unique amphibian! -- Axpone Press, Paperback THE AXOLOTL FACT BOOK FOR CURIOUS KIDS!: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE WORLD'S MOST UNIQUE AMPHIBIAN! -- AXPONE PRESS, PAPERBACK

$14.99 USD

The 2025 Old Farmer's Almanac -- Old Farmer's Almanac, Paperback THE 2025 OLD FARMER'S ALMANAC -- OLD FARMER'S ALMANAC, PAPERBACK

$9.95 USD

The Complete Guide to Chair Yoga for Seniors Over 60: 40+ Low-Impact Easy Exercises to Restore Strength, Mobility, Balance, and Lose Weight in 21 Days -- Linda Young, Paperback THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO CHAIR YOGA FOR SENIORS OVER 60: 40+ LOW-IMPACT EASY EXERCISES TO RESTORE STRENGTH, MOBILITY, BALANCE, AND LOSE WEIGHT IN 21 DAYS -- LINDA YOUNG, PAPERBACK

$21.19 USD

Man's Search for Meaning -- Viktor E. Frankl, Paperback MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING -- VIKTOR E. FRANKL, PAPERBACK

$16.00 USD