In “The Six Triple Eight,” Kerry Washington stars and executive produces a film that tells a little known story about Black women during World War II—and per the veteran actress it’s a film that’s sure to make Black women everywhere feel loved and appreciated
Washington said as much when she sat down for a recent interview with The Root, where she spoke alongside costar Ebony Obsidian about the forthcoming, Tyler Perry-directed film. In it, Washington stars as Charity Adams—captain of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion—while Obsidian stars as recruit Lena Derriecott. Their characters were inspired by two of the real-life women of the same name who were a part of the 855 women who would make history as the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to be stationed in Europe during World War II in 1945.
As their stories unfold, we come to learn of the impossible task the women were given: sorting out a backlog of 17 million pieces of mail to and from soldiers and getting it all shipped out in six months. On top of some of the letters being mislabeled with incorrect or incomplete addresses, the women had to tackle this gargantuan responsibility all while enduring racism, harassment, unsafe and unfair work conditions and more. Yet and still, as Black women do even to this day, they were able to emerge victorious in their mission despite the odds stacked against them.
“I think the fact that these 855 women did this incredible thing and so many of us just did not know the story is a testament to how so many people go unrecognized that we make people invisible by pushing them to the margins. And I think a lot of what we’re trying to do with this film is say ‘we see you,’” Washington told The Root who also described the film as a “love letter to Black women.” “We see you, we love you, we’re grateful, we value you. The fact that at the end of the film you see every single name of every single member of this battalion means we honor you. Every single one of you matters.”
Washington went on to say that she thinks that message will also translate to people other than Black women and expressed hope that anybody who’s ever felt disrespected and pushed to margins will find the fortitude to keep moving forward.
“I think it’s so powerful that we are lifting black women up in this moment, but we’re also lifting them up as examples to say to anybody: ‘look at these Black women and know that no matter who you are, if you feel underestimated, doubted, pushed to the margins, disrespected, if you feel doubt within yourself because of how the world treats—you know that none of that defines you.’ You can meet the mission of your life and be the best version of yourself because these women did it. And so you can do it,” she concluded.
“The Six Triple Eight” is in select theaters now and hits Netflix on Dec. 20.