Netflix's "The Six Triple 8" is powerful and emotional

December 20, 2024

Courtesy: Netlfix

The Six Triple 8 is the historical drama that follows the powerful and emotional true story of the only US Women's Army Corps unit of color (the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion of 855 women) stationed overseas during WWII. In February 1945, the women were tasked with an impossible mission of sorting through the backlog of 17 million pieces of mail in six months for American soldiers to connect with their loved ones. The series stars Kerry Washington (Scandal) as Charity Adams Earley, the commanding officer of the Battalion. The movie premiered on Netflix on December 20 after its limited theatrical release earlier this month.

Written, produced, and directed by the prolific Tyler Perry, additional producers include Nicole Avant, Angi Bones, Tony L. Strickland, Keri Selig, and Carlota Espinosa.

The series stars:

• Kerry Washington as Major Charity Adams

• Ebony Obsidian as Lena Derriecott King

• Dean Norris as General Halt

• Sam Waterston as Franklin Roosevelt

• Oprah Winfrey as Mary McLeod Bethune

• Susan Sarandon as Eleanor Roosevelt

• Milauna Jackson as Captain Campbell

• Kylie Jefferson as Bernice Baker

• Shanice Shantay as Johnnie Mae

• Sarah Jeffery as Dolores Washington

• Pepi Sonuga as Elaine White

• Jay Reeves as Private Hugh Bell

• Jeanté Godlock as Vera

• Moriah Brown as Inez

• Gregg Sulkin as Abram David

• Donna Biscoe as Emma Derriecott

• Baadja-Lyne Odums as Susie

• Jeffery Thomas Johnson as Colonel Davenport

Courtesy: Netflix

The Six Triple 8 is arguably one of Perry's best movies of his illustrious career. Paying captivating tribute to a battalion that many did not know existed, the film brings to light the true story of heroism, shining a light on the courage of these remarkable women, the unsung heroes many have never heard of before.

Speaking of the importance of getting those mail to their loved ones, Kerry said in a press release, "They were inspiring the soldiers to keep fighting by getting them the letters from home. When that's the only way you can communicate across seas in wartime, it was important that those soldiers got those letters in their hands. That was life to them."

Kerry gives an award-winning performance, and the ensemble cast stands out in a truly remarkable film anchored by Ebony Obsidian, who plays a member of the Battalion. Oprah Winfrey plays civil rights activist and founder of the National Council of Negro Women, Mary McLeod Bethune. Sam Waterston and Susan Sarandon as President Franklin Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Unfortunately, these unsung heroes were not recognized and were labeled as concubines to the Black soldiers to diminish their contributions by systemic racism.

The film is a powerful depiction of the sacrifice and dedication of the all-Black, all-female WWII Army unit, who overcame racism, segregation, and sexism under adverse physical, mental, and aerial conditions that severely limited their abilities. And yet, they were able to complete their mission tirelessly with ingenuity, grace, and dignity in three months.

In 2023, the US Army changed the name of the Fort Lee Army base in Virginia to Fort Gregg-Adams in honor of Charity Adams, becoming the first Black woman in US history to have the distinguished honor of having an Army fort named after her.

In a time where the voice of Black women are typically muted and ignored, the movie reminds us that the stories of these women and their contributions to their country are long overdue.

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The Six Triple 8 is currently streaming on Netflix.

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