“The Six Triple Eight” soon presented on Netflix and tells the story of the first army of black and female soldiers who served overseas during the Second World War. The film stars Kerry Washington and was written and directed by Tyler Perry.
“You have to watch this, because this story is not really being told in America, and we need to tell the story,” “The Six Triple Eight” Producer Nicole Avant said.
80 YEARS LATER, THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE HEROES REMINDS US WHY WE SHOULD STAND UP TO TYRANTS.
Post 6888's troop consisted of mostly Black American women. They were assigned to areas in England and France during World War II. Their plan was to clear a backlog of letters for several years.
The 6888 postal force is down the street in a scene from Netflix's “The Six Triple Eight.” (Netflix)
“Without qualifications, there is low morale,” Washington, who stars as US Army Maj. Charity Adams, says during the film. This phrase was the motto of the battalion.
Adams commanded about 850 women. She finished the war as a lieutenant colonel, becoming the highest-ranking Black woman during the war.
According to US Army records, more than 3.3 billion letters passed through military postal services to the front in 1945 alone. The war department began to receive complaints that the soldiers were not being disciplined due to a lack of letters. The large volume of mail and packages, along with a shortage of qualified postal workers, prompted the Army to use the 6888th.
Kerry Washington plays US Army Maj. Charity Adams in Netflix's “The Six Triple Eight.” (Left: National Archives; Right: Netflix)
“They were determined, and they were determined, and they were focused. And they wouldn't let anything stand between them and their goals and their work,” Avant said. “The only form of communication at this time was the US Postal Service.”
Historians estimate that women worked on 65,000 letters in eight hours. They cleared the obstruction of about 17 million letters.
A National Archives photo shows Army post 6888 sorting mail. (National History)
“Their secret was that they did not wait for things to be good or right or just, or even wonderful. They were noble and patriotic. They were they wanted to serve the service members. They wanted to serve the people on the front line,” Avant said. “They weren't really celebrated, that's why we wanted to make this film.”
Avant produced the film using his background in politics and business. He worked on former President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign. He also served as a US Ambassador to Bahamas during Obama's first term. He is the author of the best-selling book, “Think You'll Be Happy,” which honors his mother after her tragic death.. His father, Clarence Avant, known as “The Black Godfather,” was the chairman of Motown Records.
Avant said: “My father saw it before he crossed over and died. “So, this film means more to me. Very special for that.”
Kerry Washington appears as Maj. Charity Adams of the US Army's post 6888 in a scene from Netflix's “The Six Triple Eight.” (Netflix)
The 6888th member also watched the movie shortly before he died. Retired CPL Lena Derriecott Bell King sat down with Perry and the “The Six Triple Eight” cast before she died in January.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“It meant everything, especially to Tyler Perry,” Avant said. “He made sure the story was right and made sure he saw the movie before he died.”
Ebony Obsidian plays King in the movie. Oprah Winfrey also appears in the film as civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune. Susan Sarandon plays first lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
“Everybody wanted to tell this story, about these unsung American heroes who changed the game and the course of World War II,” Avant said. “Everyone was determined and focused and wanted to share this story of those who love this great country.”