Sonya Hollins

Sonya Hollins, editor
editor@comvoicesonline.com

*Headline photo: Valerie Osborne jumps the broom at her own wedding.

KALAMAZOO (MICH.)- When Valerie Osborne planned her wedding, she wanted to do something which would bring African American culture into her ceremony. She decided upon a generation’s old tradition called ‘jumping the broom.’ Osborne will share the history and excitement of a wedding, and a broom jumping ceremony during a special children’s program at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the Eastwood Branch Library, 1112 Gayle Ave. in Kalamazoo.

The event will include the book, Jumping the Broom, by Courtni Wright, along with slides of her own wedding, an arts and craft project of creating a broom, and delicious wedding cake.

“I wanted to do something that would bring the tradition of ‘ jumping the broom’ to life to children,” said Osborne, a librarian with Kalamazoo Public Library.

The book, Jumping the Broom tells the story of life on a plantation and preparations for a wedding between two slaves. The people are poor, but they do everything possible to brighten up the wedding day by preparing food and making a wedding quilt and household items for the couple’s cabin.

Registration is required for this event by calling 269-553-7810, or registering online at: http://www.kpl.gov/kids/events/registration.aspx?class=24187&wait=0