Tyler Perry has written, produced and directed a powerful tribute to an overlooked chapter of American military history, bringing the remarkable story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion to screens this December, per teenvogue.com. The film, starring Kerry Washington as Major Charity Adams Earley, chronicles the extraordinary journey of the only all-women, predominantly Black military unit deployed to Europe during World War II.
The star-studded production features an ensemble cast including Oprah Winfrey as civil rights pioneer Mary McLeod Bethune and Susan Sarandon as Eleanor Roosevelt, delivering performances that illuminate the intersection of military service, civil rights, and women’s empowerment during a pivotal moment in history.
The film centres on the 855 women who tackled what seemed an impossible mission: processing a staggering backlog of 17 million pieces of mail intended for American soldiers on the warfront. Working in harsh conditions, facing both discrimination and physical challenges, these pioneering servicewomen completed their six-month assignment in half the time, operating under the powerful motto “No Mail, Low Morale.”
“This story represents a crucial piece of American history that has been overlooked for far too long,” Perry shared with Netflix. The director was particularly moved after showing a rough cut to veteran Lena Derriecott King, who passed away in January 2024 at age 100. “She was saluting the screen… at the end, she was in tears, grateful that their contribution would finally be known to the world.”
The timing of the film’s release is particularly poignant, coming less than two years after the battalion received the Congressional Gold Medal in March 2022 – the highest civilian honour in the United States. This recognition, nearly eight decades after their service, marks the 6888th as the only women’s military unit to receive this prestigious award.
The Six Triple Eight will premiere in select theatres on December 6th before launching globally on Netflix on December 20th, promising to shed light on these unsung heroes who not only served their country but also paved the way for future generations of women in military service.
