Jake and Mary Jacobs celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary last year, showcasing their enduring love despite many challenges. In 1940s Britain, Mary, a white woman, fell in love with Jake, a black man from Trinidad. Despite societal and familial opposition, including Mary’s father telling her she’d never be welcome at home if she married Jake, they remained committed.
They met during the war at a technical college, bonding over shared interests like literature. Their relationship faced scrutiny, and Mary’s father banned her from seeing Jake. When Jake returned to Trinidad, they maintained their relationship through letters. Upon Jake’s return to the U.K., he proposed, and despite her family’s disapproval, they married in 1948 without family support.
What was it like to be in a mixed race relationship in the 1940s and 50s? We meet Jake and Mary Jacobs who got married in 1948 pic.twitter.com/E56ZP6QLbs
— BBC Radio 2 (@BBCRadio2) October 13, 2016
Early in their marriage, they faced severe discrimination and struggled to find housing as landlords refused to rent to a black man. “When I arrived in the U.K., I was subjected to abuse every day,” Jake recalls. Despite financial struggles and societal prejudice, they persevered. Tragedy struck when Mary gave birth to a stillborn child at eight months, but they found strength in each other. Mary became an assistant principal, and Jake worked at the Post Office, gradually building a stable life.
Over time, life became more comfortable, and they settled in Solihull. Reflecting on their journey, Jake and Mary have no regrets despite the hardships. “The discrimination was relentless,” Jake remembers. Their love endured, proving that love can conquer all obstacles.