What is black history without understanding the lost rituals of our past?
This February I don’t want to talk about the legacies of Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, or Rosa Parks.
One of the many customs that I often questioned growing up was that of “jumping the broom” during African-American weddings.
I remember first seeing this afro-ceremony performed during my cousin’s wedding.
I was stuck on the majestic woodwork that signified the joining of two souls.
But where did this sacrament originate?
After much research and time-consuming debate, jumping the broom holds more significance in the black experience than what I thought.
Interestingly enough, the significance of the broom to African American heritage originates in the West African country of Ghana.
Out with the Old, in with the New
Jumping over the broom not only symbolized the clearing of evil spirits.
For black women, it was a wife’s commitment to clean the barriers of the new home.
It also expressed her overall commitment to the household and her husband.
However, jumping the broom did survive in the Americas, especially in the United States, among slaves brought from the Asante area.
Today, many African American couples include jumping the broom at the end of their wedding ceremonies as a tribute to tradition.
Jumping the broom for African-Americans is far more than just a spiritual showcase of black love.
It’s a chance for black people to connect with our ancestors and hold onto traditions.