“Six Triple Eight,” which recently premiered on Netflix, tells the story of the first predominantly black and female Army battalion to serve overseas during World War II. The film stars Kerry Washington and was written and directed by Tyler Perry.
“You should see it, because this story isn't really told in America, and we need to tell this story,” said Nicole Avant, producer of “Six Triple Eight.”
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The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was comprised mostly of black American women. They served in England and France during World War II. Their mission was to clear mail that had been backed up for several years.
A scene from Netflix's “Six Triple Eight” shows the 6888th Central Postal Battalion marching through the city. (Netflix)
“Without mail, morale goes down,” Washington, who stars as U.S. Army Major Charity Adams, says in the film. This word was the battalion's motto.
Adams commanded approximately 850 women. She finished the war as a lieutenant colonel, the highest ranking Black woman held during the war.
According to U.S. Army records, more than 3.3 billion pieces of mail were delivered to the front lines through the military postal service in 1945 alone. The War Department began receiving complaints that the backlog of mail was causing low morale among soldiers. The large volume of letters and packages, as well as the lack of qualified postal personnel, led the Army to deploy Unit 6888.
Kerry Washington plays the role of U.S. Army Major Charity Adams on Netflix's Six Triple Eight. (Left: National Archives, Right: Netflix)
“They were determined, they were dedicated, they were focused, and they weren't going to let anything get between them and their goals and their mission,” Avant said. . “The only means of communication at this time was the U.S. Postal Service.”
Historians estimate that the women processed 65,000 pieces of mail in an eight-hour shift. They cleared a backlog of approximately 17 million pieces of mail.
A photo from the National Archives shows the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion sorting mail. (National Archives)
“Their secret was that they didn’t wait for things to be fair, right, just, or even good. They were good, they were patriots. I wanted to serve. I wanted to serve the people on the front lines,” Avant said. “We wanted to make this film because they weren't really celebrated.”
Avan drew on her background in politics and show business to make the film. She worked on former President Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. She also served as U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas during President Obama's first term. She is the author of the best-selling novel “When I Think I'll Be Happy,'' a memorial to her mother following her tragic death.. Her father, Clarence Avant, known as the “Black Godfather”, was the chairman of Motown Records.
“My father saw it right before he crossed the bridge and died,” Avant said. “So this movie means even more to me. It's special in that way.”
Kerry Washington appears in a scene from Netflix's Six Triple Eight as U.S. Army Major Charity Adams of the 6888th Central Postal Battalion. (Netflix)
Members of the 6888th also watched this movie just before they passed away. Retired CPL Lena Derricott Bell King spoke with Perry and the cast of Six Triple Eight before her death in January.
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“It meant everything, especially to Tyler Perry,” Avant said. “He confirmed the accuracy of this story and made sure she saw the movie before she passed away.”
Ebony Obsidian plays King in the movie. Oprah Winfrey also appears in the film as civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune. Susan Sarandon plays First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
“Everyone wanted to tell this story about an unsung American hero who profoundly changed the course and trajectory of World War II,” Avant said. “Everyone was dedicated and focused and wanted to share the story of this great patriot.”
