Lady Faith guest reviews The Six Triple Eight.

Guest Review by Lady Faith

The Plot
The Six Triple Eight is a movie based on the true experience of Black Women who wanted to serve their country during WWll. 

They joined the Army and became members of The Women’s Army Corp. Knowing that they would be in a segregated unit, but even with that knowledge, they still joined to be of service to this country and to those defending it.

Their overseas assignment was to do a job of sorting mail and getting it sent out to the troops. How important was mail that had been backed up and not moved out to the troops?  Very.

^{The real life Six Triple Eight}
Intro
Honestly, I didn’t really want to watch the movie because I knew the degrading conditions that the white mediocre mentality and actions would impose on these women. How? Because I’m retired military, and when I joined we were still called the Women’s Army Corp. Even though, by the time I joined it was beginning to be integrated, white mediocre male misogyny was (is) still prevalent, but I lived and thrived despite it.

^{The author being fitted for her ‘Class A’ uniform}

First they were women, second, they were Black women, but, worst of all, they were trying to be of service to a country that did not reciprocate. Another glaring example of hatred and an attempt to degrade  Black people especially Black women. This is exemplified in a scene where the Major finds out how the women are being transported to Europe. It wasn’t the how, as much as the conditions, that angered and saddened me. Yet, these women held their dignity. When they landed in Scotland they landed in top flank military style.


^{The real life Lena Derricott King}

The Performances/Writing
This movie is extremely well written with an amazing flow that allowed for the brutality of the circumstances, while giving space for the love stories. It had great scenery and costuming but most of all it had acting. 

The cast, led by Kerry Washington, is fantastic from top to bottom.

Gregg Sulkin is wonderfully funny, kind and respectful as Abram; then there’s Jay Reeves as Private Hugh Bell, who showed courage, profound concern and empathy. His character was written and acted with compassion, patience and love for Lena. The subtle nuances of a Black man toward a Black woman are not often displayed on camera, even though they exist in real life. Milauna Jackson, as Captain Abbie Noel Campbell, represented support, as well as friendship for her commanding officer. Finally we have Lena, played by Ebony Obsidian, who embodied love, strength, bravery. 

Then, of course, there’s our star: Kerry Washington. Washington disappears into Major Charity Adams, standing front and center. She reminded me of the Black women officers I encountered in Basic Training, who were sometimes brutally tough, because they knew what we, as women and specifically as Black women, would be up against.

^{The real life Major Charity Adams}

The Look of the Film
The attention to detail was wonderful. They captured the look and feel of the era. The clothing, the vehicles, hair styles, everything. Even the layout of Ms. Derriecott King’s home is a perfect recreation. This continues once the ladies get to Europe as even the streets and architecture of the sets gives you a feel for the area and time period. 

Final Thoughts
This is a movie I would like to own as I will be watching it again. It warmed my heart to see these women shown for their bravery, dedication to duty. Their dignity in the face of white mediocrity. Their times of laughter, sadness and ingenuity. Black Ladies doing what we do best: making the best out of a bad situation. If you know you know.

5 out of 5 Salutes