During World War II, 855 women joined the fight to fix the three-year backlog of undelivered mail. Faced with discrimination and a country devastated by war, they managed to sort more than 17 million pieces of mail ahead of time. (IMDB).
Tyler Perry’s new film, The Six Triple Eight, follows the first unit to be entirely composed of black women. If their assignment doesn’t have you by the edge of your seat, well you’re in the same boat as those women were when they received it. “They think the only thing we’re good enough for is to deliver some damn mail?” Shanice Williams’ character laments. In the face of multiple aircraft hangars piled high with unsorted mail, though, the importance of connection is undeniable.
The moral of American troops, caught in the bloodiest war the world has ever known, was at an all time low. The moral of their families back home was the same- they’d written letter after letter only for their messages to be lost in a sea of ‘logistical problems.’ Enter our heroines, The Six Triple Eight of the women’s army-corps.
In an interview with ESSENCE magazine, Kerry Washington says “We have contributed. We continue to over-index in how we show up for this country, despite how this country does or does not show up for us, and so I’m just really grateful to be part of a story that really lifts up these heroes, these examples of service.”
Some of the veterans of the Six Triple Eight Battalion survived into our modern day. Their experience and insight were sought out to bring an authentic experience to the film.
Lena Derriecott Bell King was one of those veterans. She and her unit faced sexism and racism on a systematic level, as well as face-to-face numerous times. Coupled with freezing cold weather in France and the devastation of war, the fact that the Battalion sorted and delivered 17 million pieces of mail in half the time expected of them is remarkable.
Ebony Obsidian, who plays King’s character, said “It was a dream to be able to embody such a powerful young woman. To play Lena, to step into her world, and to have met her — to have gotten her blessing to do so — was such a gem.” Obsidian adds, “There’s no experience that I’ve had like this one.” (ESSENCE)
The Battalion’s efforts went largely unrecognized for years. In 2018, a monument was erected honoring the Six Triple Eight. In 2021, bipartisan legislation was passed to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the Six Triple Eight Battalion.
In 2022, a musical was adapted from their inspiring story. Four members survived to add their insight: Romay Davis, Fannie McClendon, Lena King, and Anna Mae Robertson. King and Davis passed away peacefully in 2024.
