Genre: Period drama, war
Tyler Perry’s The Six Triple Eight is a powerful and well-crafted film that sheds light on the untold story of the 6888th central postal directory battalion that saw black women overcome racism, discrimination, and wartime challenges in service of their country.
The story of the women of The Six Triple Eight is one of the lesser-known stories to come out of World War 2. Tyler Perry has written, produced and directed the story and has managed to capture the tale in a way that is gripping, powerful, and entertaining.
During World War 2, 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.
Kerry Washington plays Major Charity Adams, the commanding officer of the battalion, and she does so marvelously. Adams is fierce and resilient as a leader and stands up for her women against the higher-ranking officials multiple times. She stands firm in the fight against racism, discrimination and segregation, all while making sure that the women kept their spirits high and remained firm despite the harsh conditions they were forced to work under.
Her performance is truly powerful and authentically depicts what leadership is all about in the face of terrible racism.
The film also highlights some the background of one of the women who joins the military after the love of her life dies in battle.
Lena Derricott’s (Ebony Obsidian) story provides a personal look into what the experience was like for most of the women.
One of the saddest moments in the film happens when Lena finds the grave of her loved one. Even the hardest of hearts will break during this emotional scene.
Oprah Winfrey, Susan Sarandon and Sam Waterston all make noteworthy cameos.
The movie is very well written and filmed. Perry did a good job of telling a previously untold story about black women dealing with the barrier put in place by racist war leaders.
The film doesn’t just focus on their service; it also deeply explores the personal struggles they faced, both within the military and in a world that didn’t fully recognise their contributions.
The female characters are portrayed with such depth and strength that it becomes impossible not to feel a personal connection to their fight for recognition and equality.
The film also does a good job of sparking further interest in the story of the ladies and their historical feat.
The Six Triple Eight is available for streaming on Netflix.
