Overview: The legacy of the Six Triple Eight
St. Paul author, educator, and historian Dr. Artika R. Tyner took center stage at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans to share The Courageous Six Triple Eight, a graphic novel bridging Black history, youth literacy, and leadership.
Many could agree that history has a way of shaping the future. An all-Black group of women proved that courage, resilience, and a stack of delayed wartime mail could boost the morale of an entire nation. Now, young readers are getting a front-row seat to that hidden history.
St. Paul author, educator, and historian Dr. Artika R. Tyner was featured at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, bringing her latest children’s graphic novel, The Courageous Six Triple Eight, directly to children and families.
Breaking down barriers
A part of the Women Warriors of World War II series, the book showcases the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the first and only all-Black Women’s Army Corps unit deployed overseas during World War II.
Under the leadership of Major Charity Adams, the women of the “Six Triple Eight” faced racism and sexism while working to clear a massive, months-long backlog of undelivered mail for American troops in Europe. Although tough, the group completed the mission, reconnecting millions of soldiers with their loved ones back home.
“The story of the Six Triple Eight reminds us that history is shaped by difference-makers,” Tyner said in a statement. “When children learn these stories, they begin to understand that they, too, have the power to make history and make a difference in the world.”
History as a toolkit for future leaders
The museum event offered families a look at the dual realities of that era: how Black women stepped up to serve a country that still denied them full civil rights, overcoming systemic barriers to deliver critical results.
For Tyner, who also founded St. Paul’s Planting People Growing Justice Press and Bookstore, the graphic novel is more than a history lesson. It is a tool for future leaders.
“Learning history is also about discovering our own capacity to lead,” she said. “Their legacy challenges each of us to ask: What is in my hands to make a difference in the world?”