The fascinating true story behind Netflix's upcoming war drama The Six Triple Eight, explained

Netflix is bringing an empowering and inspirational story from history with The Six Triple Eight. The movie follows the story of a group of women of color who enlisted during World War 2. It brings viewers to the lesser-known heroic story of a real-life army unit of women of color whose mission was to deliver mail to soldiers to maintain morale.

Starring Oprah Winfrey, the movie has been co-written and directed by actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry. The Six Triple Eight is not just a war story with themes of valor and glory. It will also delve into nuances like the discrimination that these women faced as they attempted to carry out the task they were entrusted with.

Despite experiencing racism and sexism as well as intense working conditions, these women were committed to serving their country. The Six Triple Eight highlights the lives of these unsung heroes and is an ode to the unique mission they carried out.

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The true story behind The Six Triple Eight explored

The Six Triple Eight is a true story inspired by director Tyler Perry's real-life relationship with a member of the 6888 battalion, Lena Derriecott King, who died this year aged 100. Perry's conversations with her about her time with the 6888 intrigued and inspired him to make a movie highlighting the lives of these lesser-known heroes from World War 2.

The 6888 was a female battalion consisting of 855 women who were deployed from the US to Europe in February 1945, and it was the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to be stationed in Europe during wartime.

The women in this battalion were deployed with 17 million pieces of mail, some of which were labeled with incorrect or incomplete addresses. They were asked to ship it out in six months to boost the soldiers' morale. The task was highly important as the families of servicemen had not received word from those on the field for months.

These women were working in three eight-hour shifts while battling nearly insurmountable odds and of course, racism and sexism, to complete their duty. Despite the value that their task held, these women were assigned to segregated housing in poorly maintained buildings that lacked basic hygiene and living conditions.

But they remained undeterred, creating a community of their own, which included a mess hall, hair salon, and refreshment bar. They were extremely efficient and completed their tasks in 90 days, which was half the time allotted.

It was only decades later that the 6888th Battalion was given the praise they deserved. Finally, it was only in 2018 that a monument was dedicated to the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion at the Buffalo Soldier Monument Park at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

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What do we know about the Netflix movie?

The Netflix logline for The Six Triple Eight reads:

"During WWII, the only US Women's Army Corps unit of color stationed overseas takes on an impossible mission in Tyler Perry's drama based on a true story."

Directed by Tyler Perry, the film was released in theatres on December 6, 2024, and will be arriving on Netflix this December 20, 2024.

The full list of the cast of The Six Triple Eight is as follows:

• 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

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Catch The Six Triple Eight streaming on Netflix from Friday.