Oscars nomination for film that celebrates the extraordinary women of the Six Triple Eight
A song that appears in The Six Triple Eight, a Tyler Perry/Netflix film that celebrates the extraordinary achievements of the women of 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion – the only predominantly black, all-female unit serving overseas during the Second World War – has been nominated for Best Original Song at the 2025 Oscars.
Powerful and emotive ballad The Journey, performed by musician H.E.R., is played during the film's closing titles while the real Lena Derriecott Bell King, the protagonist of the film portrayed by actor Ebony Obsidian, proudly speaks about the women she served alongside and the obstacles they faced.
With the motto No Mail, Low Morale, the women of the 6888th – nicknamed Six Triple Eight – were tasked in 1945 to sort about 17 million items of mail that had been sitting in rat-infested warehouses in the UK for a couple of years.
These women, led by their pioneering commander, Major Charity Adams, set up a three-shift pattern and processed about 65,000 items of mail and packages per shift for three months in an around-the-clock operation.
The Oscar-nominated song that celebrates their achievements erupts into lyrics while modern-day photos of those who served and archive footage of the women of 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion is played with the names of all who served floating on top.
One chorus is particularly moving, given the intense racism the women faced while fighting to defend the freedom of those living in Europe, with the lyrics: "It's the journey.
"It's the getting there to where you're going to.
"Going through hell, but still, you're gonna make it through.
"It's the fire that they can't put out inside.
"It's a hell of a ride."
While passionately performed by multi-award-winning musician H.E.R., The Journey was written by American songwriter Diane Warren.
Speaking about the song in The Hollywood Reporter last year, Diane Warren said: "The story of The Six Triple Eight is one about resilience and perseverance and I'm so proud to be part of bringing the story of these amazing women to light.
"Tyler Perry and his team crafted a beautiful film that I drew immediate inspiration from."
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