“The Six Triple Eight” was recently released on Netflix. and tells the story of the first black and women’s Army battalion to serve overseas during World War II. The film stars Kerry Washington and was written and directed by Tyler Perry.
“You have to look at this. Because this story hasn’t really been told in America. And we need to tell this story,” said Nicole Avant, producer of “The Six Triple Eight.”
80 years later, the BULGE hero’s battle reminds us why we must stand up to tyranny.
Postal Battalion 6888 was comprised mostly of black American women. They are assigned to various locations. in England and France during World War II Their mission is to clear a years-long mail backlog.
The 6888th Postal Battalion marches down the street in a scene from Netflix’s “The Six Triple Eight.” (Netflix)
“When there is no post office Morale is low,” Washington, who plays Lt. Col. Charity Adams, said during the screening. This phrase is the battalion’s motto.
Adams commanded approximately 850 women. She ended the war as a lieutenant colonel. and became the highest-ranking black woman during the war.
According to US Army records More than 3.3 billion pieces of mail were sent through the military postal service to reach the front lines in 1945 alone. The Ministry of Defense began receiving complaints that soldier morale was low due to a backlog of mail. Lots of letters and parcels Including the shortage of qualified postal workers. causing the Army to organize personnel at 6888
Kerry Washington plays Maj. Gen. Charity Adams in “The Six Triple Eight” on Netflix. (Left: National Archives, Right: Netflix)
“They intend And they are committed And they are focused. and they will not allow anything to stand between them and their goals and mission,” Avant said. “The only form of communication at this time is the United States Postal Service.”
Historians estimate that the women handled 65,000 pieces of mail per eight-hour shift. They cleared a backlog of approximately 17 million pieces of mail.
Photograph from the National Archives showing sorted mail from the 6888th Postal Battalion. (National Archives)
“Their secret is that they don’t wait for things to be fair or right or just. even to be excellent They are great and patriotic. They want to serve service members. They want to serve people on the front lines,” Evant said. “They didn’t celebrate much. Which is why we wanted to make this movie.”
Avant produced the film using her background in politics and show business. She worked on former President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008. She also served as United States Ambassador to the Bahamas during Obama’s first term. She is the author of the bestselling novel “Think You’ll Be Happy,” which honors her mother after her tragic death.– Her father, Clarence Avant, known as “The Black Godfather,” was the chairman of Motown Records.
“My father saw it before he crossed over and died,” Avant said, “so this movie means even more to me. Special for that.”
Kerry Washington appears as Maj. Gen. Charity Adams of the 6888th Postal Battalion in a scene from “The Six Triple Eight” on Netflix. (Netflix)
Member 6888 also saw the film shortly before his passing. Retired CPL Lena Derriecott Bell King sat down with Perry and the cast of “The Six Triple Eight” before her death in January.
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“It means everything. Especially with Tyler Perry,” Avant said. “He made sure the story was accurate. And to make sure she saw the film before she died.”
Ebony Obsidian plays King in the film. Oprah Winfrey also appears in the film as civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune. Susan Sarandon plays the First Lady. One Eleanor Roosevelt
“Everyone wants to tell this story. It’s about the unsung American heroes who changed the game and the course of World War II,” Avant said. “Everyone had determination and determination. and want to share the stories of these great patriots.”
