Above: Kerry Washington will star in and produce the story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female battalion to serve overseas during World War II. Photo by Nino Munoz
Featured photo: Army Maj. Charity E. Adams and Capt. Mary Kearney of the 6888th Central Postal Battalion inspects the first contingent of Black members of the Women’s Army Corps assigned to overseas service in Birmingham, England, Feb. 15, 1945.
Photo by Army/National ArchivesVIRIN:450215-A-D0439-016C
By Rina Risper
TNCPNews
Kerry Washington has been cast in Tyler Perry’s film ‘Six Triple Eight’ and she will executive produce the Netflix production, as well. Oprah Winfrey has also been cast in the film along with a large ensemble of other actors, including Ebony Obsidian, Milauna Jackson, Kylie Jefferson, Shanice Shantay, Sarah Jeffery, Pepi Sonuga, Jay Reeves, Jeante Godlock, Moriah Brown, Baadja-Lyne Odums, Gregg Sulkin, Dean Norris and Susan Sarandon. Six Triple Eight will be Tyler Perry’s first time producing and directing a historical war drama for Netflix.
Six Triple Eight refers to the 6888th Postal Directory Battalion, a unit made up of about 855 Black women who served as postal workers during World War II. These women faced racial and gender discrimination, but still managed to tackle the daunting task of sorting through and delivering the backlog of undelivered mail. Despite the challenges, they completed the mission in half the time given, demonstrating their remarkable determination and perseverance. Their story is a testament to the bravery, strength, and resilience of these pioneering women and serves as an inspiring example for generations to come. The screenplay is adapted from a 2019 article about the battalion published in WWII History Magazine by Sovereign Media.
Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune was a Black prominent educator and public leader. She first met First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s wife, in 1927. Roosevelt invited Bethune to a meeting of leaders of the nation’s prominent women’s groups. At the meeting, the all-white attendees refused to sit with Bethune, who was the only Black guest, but this incident only strengthened the bond between Roosevelt and Bethune. Both women shared a belief in the power of education, as Roosevelt had co-founded a college prep school for girls where she had remained a teacher until her husband became president.
As a result of their close relationship, Bethune became a trusted advisor to Roosevelt, opening her eyes to the ongoing struggles faced by Black Americans. This relationship was instrumental in bringing about positive change for Black Americans and helped to pave the way for future generations. Dr. Bethune became an advisor to President Roosevelt and was concerned that Black women would be left out of the war effort. She advocated with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to find a meaningful role for Black women in the war and identified qualified women, including Charity Adams, who was already serving in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) at Fort Des Moines, Iowa.
Thanks to Dr. Bethune’s efforts, many Black women joined the WACs and by the end of the war, over 6,000 Black women had served in uniform. This marked a significant step forward for black women’s involvement in the military and in society, and it would pave the way for future generations of Black women in uniform.
Facing discrimination, unfamiliar land, and a war-torn country, they persevered and sorted over 17 million pieces of mail, reconnecting American soldiers with their families and loved ones back home. The motto that kept them going each day was one they created themselves: “No Mail, Low Morale.” The women of the 6888 weren’t just delivering mail, they were delivering hope. Despite their important role in supporting the war effort, their story has been largely neglected and overlooked for many years.
However, in March of 2022, President Joe Biden signed a bill granting women the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor given by Congress, acknowledging their service and sacrifices.
Six Triple Eight is a film directed by Tyler Perry, marking his fourth film for Netflix. Perry has previously directed films such as A Fall From Grace, A Madea Homecoming, and A Jazzman’s Blues, which have performed well on the streaming platform, with some of them appearing in the Top 10 in multiple countries. Perry was also part of the ensemble cast of Adam McKay’s ‘Don’t Look Up’, which has been well-received and is currently in the Top 10 Most Popular Films on Netflix. Perry is known for his ability to captivate audiences and his new film about the 6888th Postal Directory Battalion is expected to continue this trend.
