How to Throw a Bro Mitzvah

One of the nice things about living in a melting pot is when cultures "borrow" traditions from other cultures to turn them into something positive for their own communities. An example of this is the new ritual of the "bro mitzvah" among African Americans. Inspired by the Jewish bar mitzvah, a bro mitzvah celebrates an African-American boy's transformation into an adult. Here's how to throw a bro mitzvah.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Decide what you want the ceremony to include. In a Jewish bar mitzvah--bat mitzvah when the guest of honor is a girl--the young man must learn parts of the Torah, give a speech and usually performs a community service. Decide if you want your bro mitzvah boy to borrow any of these traditions--or if the ceremony will simply be speeches to the boy encouraging him to be a strong black man.

2. Set a date for the bro mitzvah. Hire any officiants or clergy members you'd like to be involved.

3. Choose a venue for both the ceremony--if there will be one--and the party. Dancing and music are usually big parts of bro mitzvah, so your reception site should have a good dance floor.

4. Send out invitations. A formal style invite suggests to guests that this is a serious occasion. List the bro mitzvah guest of honor's full name, time, date and location. You might also include a line or two explaining the significance of this very new African-American tradition.

5. Hire caterers, musicians or DJs and photographers. The party aspect of a bro mitzvah isn't different from a bar mitzvah, quince, sweet sixteen or even a wedding--but usually the theme involves African American music, foods and traditions.

6. Include a toast to the bro mitzvah boy--and give him the floor so he can thank the people who hosted the party and more importantly helped shaped him into the responsible young man he's become.

[tricianixon]

on 6/26/2009 OMG - there is a super cut video about how to do this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GhpEcDXLmk