They were given a task that others had failed at – and they were given it because they were not expected to succeed.

The fascinating story of 855 black women who came to Birmingham from America to clear a two-year mail jam during World War II – handling 17 million letters that would otherwise have gone unseen – has been made into a film.

“Ladies, we have been directed to provide hope, communication and care packages to our exhausted soldiers on the front lines and to let their families back home know if they are safe,” said Maj. Charity Adams as she addressed herself her female soldiers turns Six Triple Eight.

“Or…or if they died in battle.”

Major Adams, who led the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, is played by actress Kerry Washington.

“Everyone thought what they were dealing with was impossible,” she told the BBC.

“And I think that’s why the film resonates with people.

“Not just, you know, these particular black women and this time and this place, but anyone who has ever felt underestimated or doubted or pushed aside or marginalized.”

Critically acclaimed director and writer Tyler Perry created the film for Netflix, bringing the women’s achievements to a global audience.

“They were tasked with delivering 17 million pieces of mail that had just been thrown into hangers that were moldy and had many of the names on the letters illegible,” he said.

Viewers are left in no doubt about the challenge the women faced and the fact that others had failed at the same mission.

Major Adams explains in the film, “They only gave us a period of six months, and I thought that would take a long time before I realized the magnitude of this situation.”

“When there is no mail, morale is low.”

They were the first and only colored Women’s Army Corps unit stationed in Europe during World War II.

The battalion consisted primarily of black women, but there were also women of Caribbean and Mexican descent.

“There’s this great line that Tyler wrote for Charity Adams in the movie where she says, ‘We’re fighting a war on all fronts,'” Washington said.

“Because it just felt like they were dealing with World War II, but also racism and misogyny.

“And even when they returned home, they had to face prejudice because they had gone into the army, and people couldn’t believe that they had achieved this incredible goal, and so there were rumors that they had just been sent there to be there.” Concubines for the black male soldiers.

“That’s why many women never spoke about their legacy and didn’t share this heroic moment in history with anyone.”

In 1945, the late Elizabeth Barker Johnson was 25 years old when she was housed in the temporary barracks of 6888 at King Edwards School, Edgbaston.

In 2018, when she was 98, she spoke to the BBC.

“I separated the mail and picked up a package,” she said.

“Everything fell on the floor and I picked up the watch, looked at the back, it had a guy’s name on it, his number and everything else, and I just felt so good because I could pass it on to him.”

Families from the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion visited King Edwards School last year and followed in their footsteps.

One of her descendants, Janice Martin, said at the time: “All I knew was she was in the military.”

“She served, she said we had a job to do and we came home, and after that no one said anything until the last few years.”

The women cleared the backlog in three months – half the time they were given.

Charity Adams was the first black woman to command an overseas battalion in the U.S. Army.

Washington said she is full of admiration for the character she plays.

“People talk about loving and respecting her because even though she was strict, strict and tough, they knew that she wanted the best for them and that she loved them,” she said.

“And I think that’s a unique leadership quality, the kind of leader that brings out the best in you because they believe in the best in you.”

The 6888 movie hits Netflix on Friday, December 20th.