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“Why did you sign up?” they ask each other. They’re fresh recruits. They haven’t yet figured out that among soldiers, as among prisoners, there are some questions one doesn’t need to answer. Lena (Ebony Obsidian) is perceived as a little odd, as quiet and removed, because she doesn’t talk about it. Some of her comrades want to go to college. For others it’s about patriotism. Johnnie Mae (Shanice Shantay) admits that she’s there for the men. For Lena, there has only been one young man, her Abram (Gregg Sulkin), but that’s too painful to think about.

Lena’s grandmother has taken her decision to join the army halfway through World War Two very much in her stride, assuring Lena’s mother that the teenager is in no danger because so little opportunity is afforded to African American women that she’s unlikely to get anywhere near combat.

Throughout history, the crucial role female operatives played in war efforts remained mostly understated and ignored in favor of glorifying the combat records of their male counterparts. But the situation is even more dire when it comes to women of color, who were doubly marginalized—for both their race and their gender. Tyler Perry’s period war drama, The Six Triple Eight, streaming on Netflix, brings the struggle of the women of color in the armed forces to light by chronicling the real-life heroics of all Black female operatives in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion of the United States Army during the Second World War. While tackling prejudice, racial discrimination, and sexism—which were still very much prevalent in the then-military—the unit was able to achieve historic success in boosting the morale of the army through connecting field combatants with their loved ones by clearing a massive mail backlog.

When it comes to period pieces that chronicle real-life incidents, characterization becomes much more significant—for quite obvious reasons, as there needs to be a resemblance between the person in real life and their on-screen portrayal. Director Tyler Perry’s war drama The Six Triple Eight, which revolves around the real-life heroics of the titular battalion of all-Black female soldiers during the Second World War, presented the bitter reality of existing racial prejudice in the armed forces. As the movie introduced a number of historical figures while bringing the unsung war heroes to life, needless to say a strong ensemble cast was essential to do justice to their silver screen counterparts. Thankfully, the strength of The Six Triple Eight is showcased through the performance of its cast, stacked with some prolific actors from contemporary media.

Major Charity Adams, Played By Kerry Washington

Actor Kerry Washington has won several accolades in her three-decade-long acting career,...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson for Wbgr-fm on December 19th, reviewing “The Six Triple Eight” a World War II story written and directed by Tyler Perry. Streaming on Netflix beginning December 20th.

Kerry Washington is the real-life Lt Col Charity Adams, the no-nonsense leader of the Six Triple Eight (6888) Postal Battalion, the group that unstuck a backlog of several million letters for the troops and the home front, a vital service of morale for both ends of that era’s only means of communication. Although they were segregated, their battalion was the only black/woman of color unit to serve in Europe during the war, and in this based-on-truth story they are represented by real-life Lena Derriecourt King (Ebony Obsidian) and representative soldiers like Johnnie Mae (Shandice Shantay), but they all served honorably.

“The Six Triple Eight” is streaming on Netflix beginning December 20th.

I must commend Tyler Perry. Out of the many films about World War II, he chose one so foreign to most of us that it almost seems entirely unbelievable. Perry’s latest feature isn’t a hoopla of major battles and violent sequences. It tells the untold story about the U.S. Army’s 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, another history lesson that's been buried long enough. The Six Triple Eight is about the first and only Women’s Army Corp unit of color that served overseas in Europe in WWII, a tale long overdue even if it is extremely rough to get through.

The Six Triple Eight is a documentary released in 2019 that chronicles the experiences of the 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-black female unit in World War II. It highlights their mission to clear mail backlogs in Europe while overcoming racism, sexism, and the challenges of wartime.

Release...

Tyler Perry’s war drama film, Six Triple Eight is based on the American 6888th Battalion—the only Women’s Army Corps unit of color that served during World War II. The Six Triple Eight has the potential to intrigue the audience to learn more about this important chapter in history, but as a creative endeavor, it fails to leave a mark. Even though it was supposed to be a story of how women of color, particularly Black women in the Women’s Army Corps, showed resilience in the way they handled racism and sexism to deliver on the job they were assigned, it felt more like an undercooked love story. Loosely centered around the lives of real war heroes, The Six Triple Eight is a decent introduction to their struggles, but it fails to leave an impact.

Spoiler Alert

Why did Lena join the army?

Lena Derriecott was in love with Abram David,...

Tyler Perry has dedicated the past quarter-century of his career to giving voice to Black women on stage and screen. With “The Six Triple Eight,” the self-made mogul — who leveraged his success to build a production studio on a former U.S. Army base outside Atlanta — has found a story ideally suited to his strengths and interests: how a courageous group of 855 women of color made history during World War II, becoming the first such unit to serve overseas.

Led by Maj. Charity Adams (formidably played by Kerry Washington), the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion faced adversity on both fronts. First, they dealt with discrimination from their fellow Americans, later adding the threat of German attack once deployed abroad. As members of the Women’s Army Corps, these enlisted ladies did not kill Hitler or even carry guns, but were tasked with a significant assignment all the same: sorting a backlog...

Writer-director Tyler Perry takes a step up as a versatile filmmaker in bringing Netflix’s inspiring World War II-set true story The Six Triple Eight to the screen to tell the largely untold story of the Women’s Army Corps Unit of Color and their heroic and important achievement during the war in Europe in 1945. This unit was made up of more than 855 women of color, mostly Black women who endured racism, sexism, grueling weather and conditions far beneath their male counterparts, only to become uncelebrated heroes after being deployed to England, then France in order to make sure the letters from and back to home for soldiers landed in the right hands.

In a genre that has seemingly explored every possible story and angle of WWII in films made both during it and after over the past 80 years, this is one that appears largely hidden, but now is getting...

Tyler Perry and Netflix have joined forces to bring The Six Triple Eight, based on the 2019 WWII History magazine article “Fighting a Two-Front War.” The war drama follows the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to serve overseas in WWII. The film stars Kerry Washington as Major Charity Adams, who leads the 855 on the mission to deliver the backlog of mail to the troops fighting in the war.

Six Triple Eight. Kerry Washington as Major Charity Adams in Six Triple Eight. Cr. Bob Mahoney / Perry Well Films 2 / Courtesy of Netflix The Six Triple Eight Review

Major Charity Adams struggles daily to ensure that her Battalion meets the Army’s standards and expectations. The battle outside the platoon is dealing with racism from her fellow officers, who see her as less than because of the color of her skin. No matter how she tries, she can...

While Tyler Perry is not usually known for historical dramas, he tries his hand at spotlighting a lesser-known element of World War II. His upcoming film, The Six Triple Eight, is inspired by the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to serve overseas in WWII. Given an extraordinary mission and united in their determination, these unsung heroes delivered hope and shattered barriers. The movie stars Kerry Washington, Ebony Obsidian, Milauna Jackson, Kylie Jefferson, Shanice Shantay, Sarah Jeffery, Pepi Sonuga, Moriah Brown, Jeanté Godlock, Jay Reeves, Jeffery Johnson, Baadja-Lyne Odums, Donna Biscoe, Gregg Sulkin, Scott Daniel Johnson, Susan Sarandon, with Dean Norris, and Sam Waterston, and Oprah Winfrey. Netflix has just dropped the teaser trailer online.

The official synopsis reads,

“The Six Triple Eight is inspired by the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to serve overseas in WWII. Despite facing racism and...

Filmmaker Tyler Perry was inspired to tell the story of the heroic 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only Women’s Army Corps unit of color, in The Six Triple Eight after meeting a former member of the group. The first teaser introduces the women of the 6888th Battalion, led by Kerry Washington as Major Charity Adams.

The film also stars Ebony Obsidian, Milauna Jackson, Kylie Jefferson, Shanice Shantay, Sarah Jeffery, Pepi Sonuga, Moriah Brown, and Jeanté Godlock. Susan Sarandon, Dean Norris, Sam Waterston, and Oprah Winfrey also star.

Kerry Washington stars as Captain Charity Adams in ‘The Six Triple Eight’ (Photo Cr. Bob Mahoney / Perry Well Films 2 / Courtesy of Netflix)

“The Six Triple Eight is inspired by the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to serve overseas in WWII. Despite facing racism and sexism – and grueling working conditions – they were committed to serving their country with honor and distinction,...

Mary Wilson, a founding member of the Supremes, died on Monday at her home in Las Vegas. She was 76. Wilson’s publicist, Jay Schwartz, confirmed the singer’s death to Rolling Stone, but did not reveal a cause.

The original Supremes — which also included Diana Ross and Florence Ballard — were one of Motown’s biggest and most consistent hitmakers, scoring 12 Number One hits from 1964 to 1969. With Wilson’s warm alto blending in with Ross’ feathery lead vocals and Ballard’s grittier delivery, Supremes hits like “Where Did Our Love Go,...

Network: Netflix.

Episodes: Ongoing (20 mins).

Seasons: Ongoing.

TV show dates: May 17, 2019 — present.

Series status: Has not been cancelled.

Performers include: Solvan Naim, Rob Morgan, Shakira Barrera, Johnnie Mae, Joe Perrino, Donnell Rawlings, Eden Marryshow, Jade, Eshete, Sam Eliad, Omar Scroggins, Adriane Lenox, Kathiamarice Lopez, Devale Ellis, Eddie J. Hernandez, Anthony L. Fernandez, Anthony Valderrama, ZsaZsa Gabone, and Katie Rich.

TV show description:

From creator Solvan Naim, the It's Bruno! TV show is a single-camera comedy. The series focuses on a man named Malcolm (Naim) and his dog, Bruno, living life in their Bushwick, Brooklyn neighborhood.

Malcolm is crazy about Bruno and takes better care of him than he does himself. He will cook dinner for...

Recently, CBS delivered the new,official synopsis/spoilers for their upcoming "Blue Bloods" episode 19 of season 5. The episode is entitled, "Through the Looking Glass," and it turns out that we're going to see some very dramatic and interesting stuff go down as Frank gets very frustrated with an investigative journalist for not giving up a criminal source, and more! In the new, 19th episode press release: Frank Spars With An Investigative Journalist Who Refuses To Give Up Her Source Who Has Confessed To Committing Murder. Press release number 2: Frank is going to go toe to toe with an investigative journalist who refuses to give up her source, despite the source admitting to committing murder. Also, Danny is going to get paired with a troubled teenager as part of an NYPD program aimed at influencing youth to make better decisions. Guest stars feature: Leslie Hope (Anne Farrell), Dominique Fishback (Charelle...

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Being included in World Wrestling Entertainment’s Hall of Fame is one of the greatest honors one can achieve in the world of Professional Wrestling. While the legitimacy and seriousness of induction into the Hall of Fame has been debated by many, there is no denying the magnitude of being known as a WWE Hall of Famer.

While the chances of being inducted are slim, the chances of being a female and inducted are even slimmer. While there are routinely six (or more) inductees in any given year, the Hall of Fame classes are generally male-dominated and sometimes the women are completely overlooked.

While Lita, Trish Stratus, Sunny, Johnnie Mae Young, Wendi Richter, “Sensational” Sherri Martel, and “The Fabulous” Moolah most definitely deserve recognition and acclaim for their contributions, there are plenty of women who also deserve their due.

Some should have been inducted before the likes of Sunny,...

The world of wrestling is mourning the loss of one of its great female pioneers today after learning of the death of Johnnie Mae Young. The World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame star passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at the age of 90, according to a representative of the organization. "There will never be another Mae Young," Vince McMahon, the chairman and chief executive of WWE, said in a statement. "Her longevity in sports entertainment may never be matched, and I will forever be grateful for all of her contributions to the industry. On behalf of WWE, I extend out sincerest condolences to her family and friends." WWE.com also released a statement about the professional star,...

It’s a sad day in the world of wrestling. On Jan. 14, women’s wrestling pioneer Mae Young passed away at the age of 90. Now celebrities who were touched by her through their lives are speaking out and remembering the legend.

From Dwyane Johnson (Aka “The Rock”) to Triple H, some of the biggest names in wrestling have taken to Twitter to share what they loved about Mae Young, who professionally wrestled from the 1940s until 2013.

Celebs Remember Mae Young

“She’s a wrestling pioneer. I truly had deep affection & respect for “Aunty Mae” Young. Rip. #IMissUMae,” Dwayne wrote on Twitter, sharing an adorable photo (above).

The other big stars of WWE paid their respects with tweets:

#RIPTheOneandOnlyGreatMaeYoung Thank you for your example to my girls on how to get all you want out of life! #pioneer #legend #whatarun

— Triple H (@TripleH) January 15, 2014

Pretty crazy reading everyone’s tweets about...

Mae Young, WWE Hall of Famer, died Tuesday, Jan. 14 after spending the last two weeks in hospice care.

The news of Young’s death comes less than one week after Young’s death was inaccurately reported. In the wake of Young’s hospitalization on Dec. 31, 2013, it was announced that Young was "gravely ill."

Mae Young Dies At Age 90

Young, a trailblazer for womens wrestling, began her career as a professional wrestler at 15-years-old in 1939 and had her last match in 2010, making history with her 8-decade career. She was the first Nwa U.S. Women’s Champion and was the third female inductee to the WWE Hall of Fame.

“There will never be another Mae Young. Her longevity in sports entertainment may never be matched, and I will forever be grateful for all of her contributions to the industry. On behalf of WWE, I extend our sincerest condolences to her family and friends,...

"What Would Jesus Do?" was the question of the night at the 38th Annual Vivian Robinson-Audelco Recognition Awards for Excellence in Black Theatre. "Jesus," a play about HIV/AIDS written by Yvette Heyliger, took home seven awards, including dramatic production of the year. Close behind it was "Langston in Harlem," receiving four awards, including musical production of the year.The event took place at the Harlem Stage Aaron Davis Hall on Monday night. The ceremony began at 7:30 p.m. with an opening performance of "We Are Family" by Impact Repertory Theatre, in accordance with the evening's theme. Host Ron Lucas then took the stage and called out for his co-host, Melba Moore. Instead, after some silence, and a bit of giggling from the audience, actress Joyce Sylvester, appeared with a, "Sorry Ron, I'll be your co-host tonight." It appeared that Moore could not make the event. The first award...

The soulful siren who mesmerized the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors with her gut-wrenching performance of The Who.s .Love Reign O.er Me,. provided one of the evening.s most spectacular moments and inspired other honorees and musicians to speak out in praise of her. Bettye Lavette brought the house of luminaries to their feet that night. Lavette grew up in Detroit, where she was discovered by Johnnie Mae Matthews, a Detroit record producer. In 1962, aged 16, she recorded a single, "My Man - He's A Lovin' Man" with Matthews, which became a hit after Atlantic Records bought distribution rights. Now on May 25, she will release her eagerly awaited album.Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook. May...

Singer Bettye Lavette was the knockout punch at the last Kennedy Center Honors with her gut-wrenching performance of The Who.s .Love Reign O.er Me,. which provided one of the evening.s most spectacular moments and inspired other honorees and musicians to speak out in praise of her. Lavette was born in Muskegon and grew up in nearby Detroit, where she was discovered by Johnnie Mae Matthews, a Detroit record producer. In 1962, aged 16, she recorded a single, "My Man - He's A Lovin' Man" with Matthews, which became a hit after Atlantic Records bought distribution rights. She toured with Clyde McPhatter, Ben E. King, Barbara Lynn and Otis Redding, and even James Brown in her youth. Lavette's style...