The Remarkable History Behind Netflix’s The Six Triple Eight

As a movie enthusiast who has seen countless films spanning various genres and eras, I must say that “The Six Triple Eight” stands out as a remarkable addition to the annals of cinematic history. The film not only offers an engaging narrative but also sheds light on a significant chapter in history that has long been overlooked – the story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the largest unit of Black women to serve overseas during World War II.

During World War II, the women serving in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion – the largest female Black unit deployed overseas – significantly impacted the war effort by handling approximately 65,000 pieces of mail each shift. These dedicated officers and enlisted personnel (about 850 in total) were responsible for delivering mail from the home front to soldiers fighting on the European battlefield between 1945 and 1946.

For the very first time, I’m part of something truly momentous – a Hollywood production where a previously secret endeavor takes center stage: the Netflix film “The Six Triple Eight,” releasing December 20 and helmed by Tyler Perry. I’m honored to be among an exceptional ensemble cast. Kerry Washington embodies Charity Adams, the battalion leader, tirelessly advocating for equal respect and opportunities for Black service members, a fight that mirrors the struggles of their white counterparts. Sam Waterston portrays President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, while Susan Sarandon brings Eleanor Roosevelt to life. And Oprah Winfrey breathes life into Mary McLeod Bethune, the trailblazing first Black woman to head a federal agency, who served as a trusted advisor to FDR on matters close to the hearts of African Americans.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d say that “The Six Triple Eight” chronicles my journey as Lena Derriecott King (Ebony Obsidian), a woman from Philadelphia, who, after losing my boyfriend in war, enlists in the Army with aspirations of becoming a nurse. In real life, both Lena and her beloved Abram, a neighbor, existed. However, my mother, a caterer at a local synagogue, had reservations about our interracial relationship, fearing the prejudices we might face.

Learn about the remarkable women portrayed in the film, as well as the significant achievements of their military unit.

What it was like to be in the 6888

The Remarkable History Behind Netflix’s The Six Triple Eight

Despite being home to numerous accomplished women, the 6888 unit faced significant discrimination. One exemplary individual, Adams, hailing from Columbia, South Carolina, graduated as the Valedictorian from high school and became a part of the first officer class in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC).

In the movie, both White women and Black women underwent training together, but they faced stark contrasts in their everyday lives – they couldn’t sit together on buses or share living spaces. The film portrays Black women soldiers putting on gas masks in gas-filled rooms and scaling rope ladders during training, yet they were often asked to relinquish their seats in a theater. Such humiliations were unfortunately commonplace, as detailed by military history writer Kevin M. Hymel in an article that served as the basis for this film.

During deployment, Adams wasn’t aware that she would be responsible for organizing mail until a sealed letter was placed in her lap during the flight. In the movie, Bethune informs President Roosevelt that the soldiers trained by Adams are prepared to handle the mission.

688th Battalion’s female workers quickly got to work in a previously school-turned warehouse, now dimly lit, in Birmingham, England. The film portrays these 688 women swiftly converting it into an office environment. In actuality, the warehouse was teeming with rats, scampering over mail sacks, as recounted by Major General Mari K. Eder in her book “The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line: Untold Stories of the Women Who Changed the Course of World War II“.

In Adams’ words, as mentioned in Eder’s book, he said, “I understand the impression this might give, ladies. I know what questions you may be asking yourselves. However, we have a task at hand, and we will complete it successfully. Now, let’s get ourselves prepared.

As a film enthusiast, I found myself immersed in the world of soldiers, where letters were delivered not by their true names but by nicknames like “Junior, U.S. Army” or “Buster, U.S. Army.” The care packages we received often disintegrated during transit, leaving it to us to gather and reassemble the contents.

In a conversation with TIME in 2023, Lena S. Andrews, the author of “Valiant Women: The Extraordinary American Servicewomen Who Helped Win World War II,” stated that they were able to clear the backlog more swiftly than any civilians or military personnel who had previously been at that location.

In 2022, Matthew F. Delmont told TIME that by ensuring all mail was delivered, she significantly boosted the spirits of troops stationed in the European Theater during World War II, as documented in his book Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad.

According to Eder, a number of the 6888 members discovered they enjoyed greater personal liberty in England compared to the United States, where segregation was widespread. They formed friendships with local residents and some even dated English men.

After the war

17 million pieces of mail were sorted by the team known as the “6888 Postal Unit.” This unit was then deployed to France, with a mission to clear up a two-year pile-up of undelivered mail that had accumulated there. Remarkably, the 6888 accomplished this task in just three months. As a result, their leader, Adams, received a promotion to lieutenant colonel, making her the highest-ranking African American woman in the United States Army at that time.

Following the war’s end, the 6888 undertook tasks in Paris, primarily sorting civilian mail. After this, the unit was disbanded in 1946. King continued to reside overseas, attending a design school in Leicester, England, and later made Las Vegas, Nevada his home for several years.

In 2022, the battalion received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian accolade given by the United States Congress. One side features a portrait of Adams, while the other displays a massive pile of letters and packages labeled “clearing the backlog.” In 2023, a U.S. military base previously named after Confederate General Robert E. Lee was rechristened Fort Gregg-Adams, in tribute to 6888’s Adams and Arthur Gregg, another pioneering African American figure within the Army.

Tyler Perry, director of “The Six Triple Eight”, had the opportunity to screen the movie for the late Coretta Scott King just before her passing. She watched it from her hospital bed. In an Instagram post, King expressed her gratitude by saying, “Thank you for highlighting the significant role Black women have played.” Coretta Scott King passed away on January 18, 2024, at the age of 100.

Approximately two decades prior to the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the 6888th battalion demonstrated the capabilities of Black women. As Adams recounted in her memoir, “We were a significant number of adult African-American women who had experienced discrimination in one form or another due to racial bias.” This was a chance for us to unite and fight for a shared purpose.

2024-12-20 16:06

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