What’s It About
During the height of the conflict in World War II circa 1943, difficulties in the war led to a change in priorities, and much of the mail previously reaching soldiers on the front lines has been halted. As warehouses begin to overflow with unfulfilled deliveries, soldiers’ hopes are dashed as they lose contact with their families back home. To fix this problem, the 6888th Battalion the Women’s Army Corps’ all-Black battalion including over 800 female soldiers is sent to tackle the impossible challenge of sorting years’ worth of backlogged mail. Even as military higher-ups hope to see the plan fail, the Six Triple Eight are determined to deliver hope to soldiers and families across the world.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
Tyler Perry’s newest film may be one of his best works. “The Six Triple Eight” is an incredible true story that will make you wonder why we have never known of these women before. So, here is the setting: it is the time of World War II, and 855 Black women volunteered to defend their nation. Pretty brave, huh? But hold your horses-they faced some very messed up treatment from the word go. We’re talking about separate facilities, ignorant remarks, and officers popping in and out every time, hoping to catch them doing something wrong. The barracks too were a mess-cold, freezing, and uninhabitable compared to what the white servicewomen were getting. Here comes Eleanor Roosevelt, played by Susan Sarandon. She learns of this huge problem about soldiers getting their mail-there have been millions of letters piled up undelivered. Who are they going to send in to bring it under control? These incredible women. And they’ll have to sort it out in six months, no less, inside these awful converted aircraft hangars filled with rats and completely unheated. Quite a gig, right? Kerry Washington just shines here as Major Charity Adams, the commander of the unit. And it will make your blood boil to watch how some officers wouldn’t even salute her rank. But man, the way she carries herself through it all while looking after her troops? That’s some top-notch leadership. There is a very touching story about Lena, played by Ebony Obsidian, trying to contact her boyfriend at war in Europe. And guess what makes the story even more touching? The real Lena, now 100 years old, has a cameo in the film. Very incredible, isn’t it? They came up with the phrase “No Mail, low morale.” – and they lived by it. They processed over four million pieces of mail in three years, working around the clock in shifts. And they did all this while dealing with ridiculous rules like not being allowed to use the same recreational facilities as white servicewomen. I mean, come on! What I love about how Perry tells this story is that he doesn’t sugarcoat the awful treatment these women faced – being called slurs by their own fellow soldiers and having their abilities questioned constantly. But he also shows how they had each other’s backs and even found moments to laugh despite it all. And just like every story involving Black people, it’s not about the hardships, but rather the underlying amazing strength and determination. Guess what? This story was – untouched by time – almost lost to history. It hits you in the gut to watch the real-life survivors tell their stories – the heartbreaking moments alongside their quiet victories. These women served their country with everything they had, even when that same country treated them like second-class citizens. If you see one Tyler Perry film, make it this one. It’s not just another war movie – it’s a powerful reminder of the heroes whose stories we almost forgot. And let me tell you, once you hear about what these women accomplished despite everything stacked against them, you won’t forget them either.
OUR RATING – A HER-STORY 8