Last year, Jake and Mary Jacobs celebrated an incredible milestone – their 70th wedding
anniversary. Their journey together wasn’t always easy, but their love triumphed over every
obstacle they faced.
It was the 1940s in Britain when Mary, a white woman, met Jake, a black man who was one of the
very few in their city at the time. Despite knowing the challenges they would encounter, Mary
couldn’t turn her back on the love they had found.
Mary’s father initially opposed their union, going as far as telling her that she would never be
welcome in their family home if she married Jake. But Mary remained resolute and committed to
their relationship.
The couple met during the war when Jake came over from Trinidad. They attended the same
technical college, where Mary was taking typing and shorthand lessons, and Jake was training with
the Air Force. As they spent more time together, they discovered their shared interests, including a
love for literature, and Jake impressed Mary with his knowledge of Shakespeare.
Their relationship faced its first major challenge when a passerby reported seeing Mary and her
friend chatting with black men during a picnic. Mary’s father was furious and banned her from seeing Jake. But even when Jake eventually had to return to Trinidad, they persisted in their love
through heartfelt letters.
A few years later, Jake returned to the U.K. seeking better job opportunities. To Mary’s surprise, he
asked her to marry him upon his arrival. Despite knowing that her family would strongly
disapprove, Mary courageously accepted Jake’s proposal. Unfortunately, her family’s reaction was
worse than expected – they threw her out of their home. On their wedding day in 1948, Jake and
Mary had no support from their families.
The early years of their marriage were incredibly challenging. They encountered discrimination
and hostility from society, struggled to find a place to live due to landlords refusing to rent to a
black man, and faced financial hardships. Even a simple walk down the street together invited
stares and judgment from others.
Their love was tested further when Mary became pregnant but tragically gave birth to a stillborn
child at 8 months. Despite the heartbreak, they stayed strong together. Mary found work as a
teacher and eventually became an assistant principal, while Jake secured a job at the Post Office.
They made new friends, but Mary always felt the need to disclose her husband’s race before
introducing him to others.
As time passed, their lives became more comfortable, and they settled in the town of Solihull, near
Birmingham. Recently, they celebrated their remarkable 70th wedding anniversary. Reflecting on
the challenges he faced as a black man in 1940s Britain, Jake admits to the relentless
discrimination he endured. He was even told that it wasn’t safe for a black man to work in an office
with white women.
Despite the hardships, prejudice, and abuse they experienced, Jake and Mary’s love remains
unwavering. Their remarkable commitment to each other is truly inspiring. Their story reminds us
that love can conquer all, regardless of the obstacles that may stand in its way.
Now aged 89 and 84 respectively, Jake and Mary continue to cherish and celebrate their love for
one another. As they mark this incredible milestone, we join in wishing them many more years of
happiness together.