In a bygone era of racial segregation and societal prejudice, the love story of Jake and Mary Jacobs unfolds despite challenging obstacles. Their 70th wedding anniversary, which they recently celebrated, is a testament to their enduring commitment to one another.
In 1940s Britain, Mary, a white woman, and Jake, a black man, find love in an environment where interracial relationships are met with skepticism and disdain. The trouble started when Mary decided to marry Jake against her father’s wishes. “If you marry that man, you will never set foot in this house again,” her father warned her.
Mary could have easily left, but she fell in love and would stop at nothing to stay with her partner despite her father’s orders to the contrary.
“When I told my dad I was going to marry Jake, he said, ‘If you marry that man, you’ll never set foot in this house again!’
The two met at the same technical school where he trained for the Air Force, and Mary took typing and shorthand classes after Jake came from Trinidad during the war.
Mary, a Lancashire resident at the time, was impressed by Jake’s understanding of Shakespeare when they first spoke.
He and his partner invited Mary and her friend to a picnic, but as they were conversing, a woman driving by noticed them and reported Mary to her father, expressing her shock at seeing two English girls talking to blacks. After he was surprised, Mary was not allowed to see her father again.
When Jake returned to Trinidad they corresponded and a few years later he returned to the UK in search of better-paying employment.
Mary was taken aback when Jake proposed to her at the age of 19, and although she agreed, her family pushed her out as soon as she told them.
“When I left, I had only small luggage with me. No relatives attended our registry wedding in 1948.”
Mary claimed that although her father was “horrified” that she would consider marrying a black man, she did not know that this feeling was shared by most of society.
“Our first years of marriage were terrible; during our time in Birmingham, I cried non-stop and ate very little. We had no money, no one would talk to us and we had trouble finding a place to live because no one would rent to a black man.” .”
Even walking down the street together was difficult because people would point at them, Mary recounted.
When Mary became pregnant, the couple relished the prospect of becoming parents, but eight months into the pregnancy, Mary gave birth to a stillborn child.
“It wasn’t related to the stress I was under, but it broke my heart and we never had any more children,” she said.
When Mary became deputy head of a British school and Jake got a job at the post office, their lives really did become easier. They became friends, but Mary claimed that before introducing her husband to others, she had to make it clear that he was black.
“My father died when I was 30 and although we had reconciled by then, he never approved of Jake,” she said.
Currently, 89-year-old Jake and 84-year-old Mary live in the town of Solihull, which is south of Birmingham. They recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
Jake says he has no regrets, but also says that today’s black youth don’t know what it was like for him to grow up in 1940s Britain.
“Daily ill-treatment” When I arrived in the UK, I suffered abuse every day. When I was on the bus, a man once put his hands on my neck and remarked, “I wanted to see if the dirt would come off.”
“And you couldn’t work in an office back then – because a black man in an office with all white girls wasn’t considered safe.”
The couple is still incredibly in love and does not regret getting married, despite all the difficulties, prejudices, and abuses. They enjoyed a happy marriage for over seven decades.
Their love for each other makes these two truly inspiring and I hope they live happily ever after together.
In a bygone era of racial segregation and societal prejudice, the love story of Jake and Mary Jacobs unfolds despite challenging obstacles. Their 70th wedding anniversary, which they recently celebrated, is a testament to their enduring commitment to one another.
In 1940s Britain, Mary, a white woman, and Jake, a black man, find love in an environment where interracial relationships are met with skepticism and disdain. The trouble started when Mary decided to marry Jake against her father’s wishes. “If you marry that man, you will never set foot in this house again,” her father warned her.
Their journey began at a technical school during World War II, where Jake, originally from Trinidad, trained for the Air Force and Mary took lessons in typing and shorthand. Despite social disapproval, their connection deepened, leading to a proposal when Jake returned to the UK a few years later.
However, Mary’s family, unable to accept an interracial union, disowned her. The couple faced immense hardship, including financial struggles and social isolation. Even simple acts like walking down the street together were marked by judgment and prejudice.
As life progressed, Mary and Jake found stability in their careers, with Mary becoming an assistant principal and Jake securing a post office position. Nevertheless, their difficult struggle against racism continued.
Their journey was marked by both joy and sorrow. The stillborn brought grief, but their shared resilience won out. Over the years, they have navigated societal prejudices, with Mary often having to clarify Jake’s race before introducing him. Through it all, their love blossomed and culminated in a rare and lasting bond.
Now living in Solihull, the couple, aged 89 and 84, continue to defy stereotypes and inspire with their unwavering commitment. Reflecting on the abuse he experienced in the 1940s, Jake highlights the challenges black people faced in a prejudiced society.
Their story is not only a celebration of enduring love, but also a poignant reminder of the strength needed to overcome adversity. Reflecting on seven decades together, Jake and Mary are living proof of love’s ability to overcome hardship and prejudice and offer inspiration to those looking for a lasting and resilient partnership.