When Tyler Perry first heard the story of the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, he knew that it “had been brought to [him] for some reason.” That reason? To tell a singular tale of triumph in the face of adversity and to shed light on the work that 855 women of color did in war-torn Europe — to make The Six Triple Eight.

“During World War II millions of pieces of mail had piled up in England,” Perry, who wrote, directed, and co-produced the film, explains in the video above. The women of the 6888th were tasked with the formidable task of sorting through and delivering that mail to soldiers and their families.

The Six Triple Eight producer Nicole Avant is the one who brought this story to Perry, because, she says, “Tyler loves history even more than I do,” and knew he’d honor the legacy of these women who “represent the energy in all of us that wants to quit, but never does.”

In the video above, Perry, Avant, and Kerry Washington, who stars as Major Charity Adams, speak about bringing these women’s story to the screen  and how they embody the powerful words of Major Adams: “This is our mission, and we will not fail.”

Watch The Six Triple Eight on Netflix now.