Netflix’s New The Six Triple Eight Honors Forgotten WWII Heroes
21 DEC 2024
During World War Two, a group of 855 Black women traveled from America to Birmingham to tackle a massive two year postal backlog. Their mission? To sort through 17 million letters that might have otherwise been lost to history. This amazing story has now been brought to life in a film.
PC: IMDb, Netflix
The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, also known as the Six Triple Eight, played an important yet often overlooked role during World War II. This group of 850 Black women was responsible for processing tens of thousands of pieces of mail each day, ensuring soldiers stationed in Europe received letters and packages from loved ones back home.
Now, a once behind-the-scenes operation is taking center stage in Hollywood. Netflix’s upcoming film, The Six Triple Eight, directed by Tyler Perry and set for release on December 20, features an impressive ensemble cast. Kerry Washington stars as Charity Adams, the battalion leader determined to demonstrate that Black service members deserve the same respect and opportunities as their white counterparts. Sam Waterston portrays President Franklin D. Roosevelt, while Susan Sarandon appears as First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Oprah Winfrey takes on the role of Mary McLeod Bethune, the first Black woman to lead a federal agency, who advised FDR on critical issues affecting Black Americans.
A Personal Story Amidst History
The film centers on Lena Derriecott King (Ebony Obsidian), a woman from Philadelphia who enlists in the Army after losing her boyfriend, Abram, in the war. Lena dreams of becoming a nurse, but instead, she joins the Six Triple Eight. Her journey is both personal and professional, as her work sorting mail takes on deeper meaning when a long-lost letter from Abram resurfaces.
This fictionalized narrative complements the real work done by the battalion. Tasked with clearing a massive backlog of mail under challenging conditions, these women worked in dark warehouses infested with rats, often reassembling broken care packages and deciphering incomplete addresses.
Life as Part of the Six Triple Eight
The Six Triple Eight operated under the guiding principle of their motto: “No Mail, Low Morale.” It was a slogan that was a reality for soldiers longing to hear from loved ones back home. The battalion’s efforts in sorting and delivering mail were important in maintaining troop morale during the war.The women of the 6888th battalion went straight to work in a dark warehouse in Birmingham, England, that used to be a school. The movie shows the 6888 women hurrying to turn it into an office. These women faced monumental tasks like deciphering incomplete addresses and reassembling damaged care packages—all while combating racism and segregation in the military.
They had to deal with letters addressed to soldier’s nicknames, not real names, like “Junior, U.S. Army” or “Buster, U.S. Army.” Care packages often fell apart mid-transit, and the battalion was in charge of putting the contents back inside.
L: Major Charity Adams inspecting the first arrivals to the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion R:The true story of the African American women has been made into a film by director and writer Tyler Perry
The women of the 6888 faced hurdles beyond the demanding nature of their assignment. As Black service members, they dealt with segregation and discrimination daily. Charity Adams, a high achiever and natural leader, guided the battalion through these challenges. Despite the racism they encountered, the women worked tirelessly to support soldiers far from home.
For some, their time in England offered a rare sense of freedom. They connected with local communities, and some even formed relationships with English men—experiences they couldn’t have imagined back home in the segregated U.S.
What Happened After the War
After sorting over 17 million pieces of mail, the battalion moved to France, where they faced an even bigger challenge: clearing a two-year backlog of mail in six months. They completed the task in half the time. Charity Adams was later promoted to lieutenant colonel, becoming the highest-ranking Black woman in the U.S. Army at the time.
The Six Triple Eight was officially deactivated in 1946, but their work didn’t go unrecognized. In 2022, they received the Congressional Gold Medal, and a U.S. Army base was renamed Fort Gregg-Adams in honor of their leader and another notable African American officer.
A Story Worth Telling
Tyler Perry made sure Lena King, one of the battalion members, saw the film shortly before she passed away in January 2024 at the age of 100. In a heartfelt moment captured on video, King expressed her gratitude for reminding the world of what these women accomplished.
Almost 20 years before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the women of the 6888th Battalion showed the world what they could do. "What we had was a large group of adult Negro women who had been victimized, in one way or another, by racial bias. " Adams wrote in her memoir. “This was one opportunity for us to stand together for a common cause.”
The story of the Six Triple Eight is about a group of women proving their capabilities despite the odds stacked against them. Netflix’s film is a chance for audiences to finally learn about their incredible work.
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