1.   Black wedding traditions such as crossing sticks and jumping the broom, are modifications of African traditions from the homeland.

2.   Just before they were pronounced man and wife, Howard and Henderson jumped the broom.

3.   Jumping the broom is an old black tradition created during the times of slavery, when slaves were denied the legal right to formally get married.

4.   Many more jump the broom, a trend gaining popularity in marriage ceremonies of middle class African Americans.

5.   Some couples include jumping the broom as part of the traditional ceremony, following the exchange of marriage vows.

6.   Some question why a couple, by jumping the broom, would invoke memories of slavery on their wedding day.

7.   The Jumping the Broom Suite, named for the old slave tradition of having the bride and groom jump the broom during their wedding, is airy and romantic.

8.   Then, they jumped the broom.

9.   For the ceremony itself there is the custom of jumping the broom.