On Netflix, “The Six Triple Eight” tells the moving story of the first company made up of black men and women in WWII.
1. The 6888th Battalion took care of millions of pieces of mail for troops.
2. "The film honors unsung heroes and brings attention to their legacies."
What does “The Six Triple Eight” mean?
A new Netflix show called “The Six Triple Eight” tells the amazing story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, which was the first army unit mostly made up of Black women who served overseas during World War II.
The star of the movie is Kerry Washington, and Tyler Perry wrote and directed it.
Why is this story important?
The story is very important, and producer Nicole Avant says, “This story is not really told in America, and we need to tell the story.”
In the movie, the battalion’s important job of boosting soldier spirit during the war is shown.
What did the 6888th Battalion set out to do?
- Processed mail to help troops who were having trouble with backlogs.
- Got rid of more than 17 million pieces of mail.
- Ran under the direction of U.S. Army Maj. Charity Adams.
- Worked nonstop to help soldiers on the front lines.
Why communication is important
The battalion’s motto, “When there is no mail, there is low morale,” encapsulates their crucial role during the war.
Each eight-hour shift, they handled an amazing 65,000 pieces of mail, showing how hard they worked and how quickly they could do things.
Historical Background
In the past, the 6888th Battalion was in charge of taking care of years’ worth of unopened mail because soldiers’ moods were low because they couldn’t talk to their families.
These women broke new ground when they were sent to work as mail workers in 1945 because they were qualified.
A Close Partnership
Nicole Avant, who produced the movie, has a very close tie to the project. The fact that her father, Clarence Avant, aka “The Black Godfather,” saw the movie before he died made the project even more important to her.
To Honor the Heroes
The movie pays tribute to heroes like former CPL Lena Derriecott Bell King, who worked with the group right before she died.
The dedication to remembering these forgotten heroes is clear in every part of the movie.
List of Notable Cast
- The movie has a great group, which includes:
- Kerry Washington as Maj. Charity Adams of the U.S. Army.
- Oprah Winfrey plays Mary McLeod Bethune, a famous civil rights leader.
- in which Susan Sarandon plays Eleanor Roosevelt, first lady.
The movie "The Six Triple Eight" not only shows what an amazing company did, but it also reminds us of the unsung heroes who have helped make American history.