“The Six Triple Eight: A True Story of the Black Woman Battalion of World War II” By Tonya Abari and illustrated by Lance Evans (HarperCollins, 40 pages, $19.99)
The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, known as the “Six Triple Eight,” was a predominantly Black unit in the U.S. Women’s Army Corps during World War II. In February 1945, these women were sent to England to confront a daunting task: sorting and delivering millions of pieces of mail for U.S. troops that had piled up during the war. They completed the job well ahead of schedule, then successfully tackled another enormous backlog of mail in France, driven by their dedication to boosting the morale of weary soldiers.
The stellar work of the 6888th was achieved during the era of segregation, when Black women had to struggle for the opportunity to serve their country. Nashville-based author and educator Tonya Abari’s “The Six Triple Eight: A True Story of the Black Woman Battalion of World War II” turns their story into an inspiring, empowering history lesson for children. As Abari puts it, the book is “about sometimes having to face obstacles on the road to doing something great.”
(READ MORE: Nashville writer spotlights the history of Black women battalion in WWII)
Tonya Abari answered questions from Chapter 16 by email.