Blanch Blake
“If yuh want good, yuh nose haffi run.”
Translation:
“If you want something good, you must accept that effort, sacrifice or discomfort will be part of getting it. “Life is what you put into it.”
Place of Origin: St James
Arrival: 1962
A story of faith in God and fostering confidence
Blanch Blakes believes that only she can stop herself from moving forward.
With faith in God, she reminds others that promotion and success come from Him, not from man. Life can be rough, but determination and self-belief will take you far.
She refuses to compare herself to others, saying if others can succeed, so can she — God gave everyone a mind to think and grow. Blanch urges parents to bless their children, speak encouragement, and never call them worthless. She believes in giving 100% to relationships and living with kindness and forgiveness. Blanch reflects that life’s mistakes are lessons — once burned, you learn and rise stronger.
Her faith grounds her: God made good and evil but wants us to choose good. With courage, love, and a strong mind, she believes anyone, the aspiring new generation coming up — can achieve greatness through faith and perseverance.
Listen to Blanch’s Oral Stories
Encourage Your Children
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It’s only myself that can stop me from moving forward. With the help of God, I know I can progress, because the Bible tells us that promotion doesn’t come from man — it comes from God. If you put your heart into something, you will reach where you want to go. Don’t turn back, even when the road is rough.
Life will not always be easy, but keep moving forward. People will talk, but don’t let their words stop you. Sometimes, in our own communities, people can even stand against each other. But I don’t compare myself to others or let that hold me down. If someone else can succeed — whether they are Indian, Black, or otherwise — then I can succeed too. God gave me a mind of my own, and I can think and endure for myself.
Whatever you set your mind to, you can achieve. Prove it to yourself, and also to your children. Always bless your children — never curse them or call them worthless. Speak encouragement over them. Say, “You can do better,” and help them believe it.
In marriage, both partners need to give 100%. It’s not one-sided. In life, we are often the ones who destroy ourselves, but God created both good and evil, and He calls us to choose the good. From the beginning, God warned Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but disobedience brought suffering. Still, because of His love, God sent His only Son to die for us and take away our shame.
It is not God’s will for us to live in poverty. Think big, be strong, and be encouraged. Your child can be a prime minister, a barrister, a teacher, a scientist, even a pilot. Don’t let people’s negative words make them stumble. Support them and remind them that they can achieve.
We all make mistakes — I know I have — but as you go along in life, you learn. If you’ve been burned once, you won’t want to be burned again. Life is beautiful, and we should have good thoughts towards our neighbours, even if they hurt us. Because in the end, God is our true defender. He is righteous, and He will not take away your rights to give them to someone else.