This should be a good story! ~ V
If you were wondering what to expect from Tyler Perry’s next project, the Netflix World War II-set drama “Six Triple Eight,” the director and the film’s star Kerry Washington have shared a first look.
Written, directed and produced by Perry, “Six Triple Eight” tells the inspiring true story of the 6888th Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female battalion to serve overseas during World War II.
The project is currently filming in the U.K. and Perry shared an image from set, featuring his all-star ensemble cast including Washington, Ebony Obsidian, Milauna Jackson, Kylie Jefferson, Shanice Shantay, Sarah Jeffery, Pepi Sonuga, Jeanté Godlock, Moriah Brown, Dean Norris and Scott Daniel Johnson.
Washington, who serves as an executive producer on the film, also shared a couple of behind-the-scenes images from the set, using her post to explain the remarkable way she came aboard the project.
“God as my witness, last year I posted a #BlackHERstory picture of me dressed as Lena Derricott — a young woman who served in the 6888 battalion, the only all Black all female battalion to serve overseas in WWII,” Washington wrote on Instagram.
“At the time, unbeknownst to me, sitting in my email inbox was some information Tyler Perry had sent me about a movie he was hoping to make about these phenomenal women!”
By February 1945, America had been at war for four long years. Our military personal, civilians and the Red Cross were sent overseas, far away from their families and friends. And their only form of communication back home —was mail call. But what if letters from home stopped coming? due to a backlog of undelivered mail.
Army brass understood the importance of mail and decided to send in a special unit to fix this morale busting problem. Enter the 6 Triple 8 Central Postal Directory Battalion, a group of all Black female soldiers with the motto, “No Mail, Low Morale.”
Despite poor working conditions in a rat-infested warehouse, these devoted servicewomen worked 7 days a week, 24 hours a day in three eight hour shifts. And they achieved unprecedented success and efficiency in solving the military’s postal problems. It is no surprise that they broke all Army records for sorting mail!
With the new tracking system that the 6 triple 8 Battalion created, the women processed an average of 65,000 pieces of mail per shift and cleared the six-month backlog of Birmingham warehouse mail in just three months. This unit provided essential support for the U.S. military in the European theater by linking service members to their loved ones back home.
By the time the 68-88th completed their mission and left France in March 1946, they had exceeded all expectations. And because of their success, it opened up the doors for other Black women in the Army and other military services.
1. The 6888th monument was donated to the Army by the Buffalo Soldier Educational and Historical Committee
2. Images of the 6888th Monument and its writings cannot be used without the explicit written permission of the Buffalo Soldier Educational and Historical Committee, c/o 9701 NW 73rd Terrace, Weatherby Lake, Missouri, atf96ff1081@gmail.com
3. For additional info about the 6888th visit www.womenofthe6888th.org.
Disclaimer: We hold no rights to any of the pictures. No copyright infringement intended.
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