African-American Marriage Customs

Broom Jumping In the era of slavery in the United States, black men and women were not allowed to formally marry and live together. In order to announce their love and engagement to the world, a pair of black men and women jumped over a broom to the beat of drums. Broom has long been of great significance to all kinds of Africans, because it means the beginning of newlyweds forming families. In southern Africa, the bride will help other women in her husband's family clean the yard on the first day of marriage to show that she is willing to help her husband's family do housework dutifully before moving into a new home. To this day, some African-Americans still hold this symbolic ceremony at their weddings.