Jake and Mary Jacobs marked their 70th anniversary of a happy marriage last year, but their journey wasn’t simple.
Mary, who is White, and Jake, who is Black, lived in the same city in 1940s Britain. At that time, there weren’t many Black men there.
Even though Mary’s father told her to leave, Mary chose love over easy choices.
“When I told my father I was going to marry Jake, he said, ‘If you marry that man, you will never set foot in this house again.’”
Mary and Jake first met at a technical college where Mary was learning typing and shorthand, and Jake was undergoing Air Force training. They met during the war when Jake moved from Trinidad to Britain.
Jake impressed Mary with his understanding of Shakespeare, and they got to know each other. One day, they invited Mary and her friend to join them for a picnic. Unfortunately, someone passing by saw them and reported Mary to her father. The woman was shocked to see two English girls talking with black guys. After this incident, Mary wasn’t allowed to visit her father again.
After Jake returned to Trinidad, they kept in touch through letters. A few years later, he came back to the U.K. to find a better-paying job.
Jake surprised Mary by proposing, and she, at 19, said yes. However, when she told her family, they kicked her out.
“I left with only one small suitcase. No family came to our registry office wedding in 1948.”
Mary’s father was upset about her marrying a black man, and Mary didn’t realize that society felt the same way.
The early years of their marriage in Birmingham were tough. Mary cried every day, hardly ate, and they faced many challenges. Nobody would talk to them, they couldn’t find a place to live because nobody would rent to a black man, and they had little money.
Even walking down the street together was hard because people would point at them, Mary explained.
Mary and Jake were excited to become parents, but at eight months, Mary gave birth to a stillborn child. She mentioned it wasn’t due to the stress she was under, but it deeply saddened them, and they didn’t have any more children.
As time passed, their lives improved. Mary became a teacher and eventually an assistant principal, while Jake found a job with the Post Office. They made new friends, but Mary felt the need to explain to people that her husband was black before introducing them.
“My father passed away when I was 30, and even though we reconciled by then, he never approved of Jake,” she shared.
Currently, Jake, 89, and Mary, 84, live in Solihull, a town south of Birmingham. They recently celebrated 70 years of marriage.
Jake said he has no regrets, but he also mentioned that today’s black youth may not fully understand the challenges he faced in 1940s Britain.
“When I arrived in the U.K., I faced abuse every day. Once, on a bus, a man rubbed his hands on my neck and said, ‘I wanted to see if the dirt would come off.’ Back then, working in an office as a black man with white girls wasn’t considered safe,” Jake explained.
Despite all the challenges, bias, and abuse, the pair is still deeply in love and has no regrets about being married. They have been happily married for more than 70 years.
These two are a true inspiration, and I wish them a lifetime of pleasure because of the love they have for one another.
Celebrating 81 years of Dynasty’s Krystle Carrington: Check out her current look!
The American soap opera “Dynasty” captured audiences worldwide in the 1980s, drawing viewers in with its compelling drama and complex relationships among characters like Blake Carrington, his wife Krystle Carrington, their children, and Blake’s ex-wife Alexis. The saga of the affluent Carrington family kept thousands glued to their screens, making the actors of “Dynasty” household names. Even today, many cherish the memories of this iconic series.
“Dynasty” was groundbreaking for its era, featuring intense power struggles, romantic conflicts, and sibling rivalries. The 1980s, characterized by bold colors, glamour, and extravagant hairstyles, provided the perfect backdrop for this opulent series.
At the heart of its success were the unforgettable performances of the cast, particularly Linda Evans and Joan Collins, who portrayed the fierce rivalry between Krystle and Alexis. Linda Evans embodied Krystle Grant Jennings Carrington, a character often seen as the heart of the show. Having started from the series’ inception, Evans received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 1982 for her role.
Reflecting on her journey, Evans once said: “That role was the answer to a prayer. I had just separated from my second husband and was uncertain about my future. I had never aimed to be an actress; I wanted to be a wife and mother. But at 39, I decided to pursue my career, and soon after, ‘Dynasty’ came along”.
Evans found a kindred spirit in Krystle, who sought love over wealth, embodying the same desires Evans had in her own life. Before her fame on “Dynasty”, Evans had already made a name for herself as “Audra” in the 1960s western series “The Big Valley” alongside Barbara Stanwyck.
After the series wrapped, Evans faced personal challenges, including depression following the illness of loved ones. In a 2016 interview, she described this period: “My life was in pieces. I struggled to understand my depression, and my health suffered”.
Although she stepped away from acting after 1997, Evans made a notable return in the 2021 film “Swan Song”. “I’m in love with this movie”, she shared. “It’s remarkable to be working at 78, but as I say: ‘Anything is possible’.”
Now at 81, Evans continues to inspire fans, reminding us of the enduring legacy of “Dynasty” and its beloved characters.
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