[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 21, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H4338-H4339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1220
                        THE BARBER OF BIRMINGHAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Alabama (Ms. Sewell) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great American, Mr. 
James Armstrong of Birmingham, Alabama, and the inspiring documentary 
of his life entitled ``The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the 
Civil Rights Movement.'' This film had its world premiere in January at 
the Sundance Film Festival and later won Best Documentary Short at the 
Ashland Independent Film Festival.
  In March, the city of Birmingham hosted a red carpet screening of 
this wonderful movie, and it was attended by over 2,000 Alabamians. It 
was featured at the Alabama Theater, a venue that once refused 
admission to African Americans.
  Tonight we will celebrate ``The Barber of Birmingham'' with its 
Washington, D.C., premiere. Later this week, the documentary will be 
screened at the Silverdocs festival in Silver Spring, Maryland.
  Mr. Speaker, the screening of this film and its historic accounts are 
deserving of tribute. I commend the independent filmmakers and 
codirectors, Robin Fryday and the late Gail Dolgin, for their 
collaborative vision in capturing the essence of Mr. James Armstrong's 
life, a Birmingham legend and civil rights activist.
  This documentary celebrates the thousands of foot soldiers whose 
names are not written in the history books but on whose shoulders we 
all stand. I applaud the directors for their wonderful rendition of Mr. 
James Armstrong's life.
  I applaud Gail Dolgin for her steadfast determination to battle 
breast cancer while codirecting and editing the film from her hospice 
bed in order to submit the film for the Sundance Film Festival. She 
died 2 weeks prior.
  I pay homage to Ms. Amelia Boynton of Selma, who was interviewed and 
provided historical accounts for segments of the film. The film also 
visited and revisited the news footage of the beating of Ms. Amelia 
Boynton and others that endured beatings on Edmund Pettus Bridge on 
Bloody Sunday during their march for the Voting Rights Act.
  Though she is ill, Ms. Boynton was determined to travel the distance 
to be a part of tonight's premiere. I am inspired by the courage and 
determination displayed by Ms. Boynton, who, at 99 years old, would not 
be deterred and will be here tonight at the premiere of ``The Barber of 
Birmingham'' right here at the Capitol Visitor's Center.
  James Armstrong, who died at 81 in November 2009, lived to see the 
fulfillment of his dream when our Nation elected its first African 
American President. I recognize him for a symbol of everything that is 
good and right and great in this Nation.
  For over 50 years, Mr. Armstrong ran a barber shop in Birmingham, 
Alabama. It served as a community hub for discussions of current 
events, like the Voting Rights Act, education, and other civil rights 
issues.
  Mr. James Armstrong was a World War II Army veteran, and he made his 
mark on the civil rights movement as a foot soldier who carried the 
American flag at the head of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery march, Bloody 
Sunday, as it's known. When authorities turned on the marchers that 
day, Mr. Armstrong dropped to his knees, but he never let go of that 
flag. Proudly, James Armstrong carried that flag until the day he died 
in 2009 for every commemoration of the Bloody Sunday march.
  As many in this august body will note, our colleague, the Honorable 
John Lewis of Georgia, was among the foot soldiers of this historic 
march.
  I salute Mr. Armstrong and his sons, Dwight and Floyd, for fulfilling 
the destiny meant for them. He and his sons filed a discrimination 
lawsuit that encouraged Blacks to actually attend elementary schools in 
the Deep South, breaking barriers in public education in Birmingham and 
throughout the South. They filed a desegregation lawsuit in 1963.
  The Armstrongs lived close to where civil rights activist the 
Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth's home was bombed, and where the four 
little Black girls were killed in the 16th Avenue Baptist Church just 5 
days after they integrated Graymont Elementary School.
  Dwight and Floyd needed a Federal escort to school for 2 years and 
were guarded at night with shotguns by members of the Alabama Christian 
Movement For Human Rights.
  Now, these selfless acts by James, Floyd, and Dwight Armstrong added 
significantly to the quality of life of all citizens in Alabama and in 
Birmingham. That is why I stand before you today to recognize Mr. James 
Armstrong, a proud American, a proud Alabamian, for his unrelenting 
dedication to the civil rights movement.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a point of personal privilege. 
Growing up in Selma, Alabama, I take great pride in paying tribute to a 
film that not only shares our painful history, but also celebrates our 
time-tested resiliency through the life of James Armstrong and other 
unsung foot soldiers and heroes. This documentary, which people will be 
able to see in theaters in New York and Los Angeles in August and 
September, should motivate us all to protect the right to vote for 
every single American citizen. The film should also inspire all 
citizens of every age, race, or gender to cherish the right to vote and 
to use it to advance this great Nation for the benefit of all people.

[[Page H4339]]

  I look forward to attending the Capitol Hill premiere tonight and 
urge all to see The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil 
Rights Movement.

                          ____________________