One of Birmingham's greatest civil rights activists has died.
Known as one of the original foot soldiers during the 1960s, James Armstrong left a legacy of courage.
He cut hair for more than 50 years, fought for school desegregation, and marched with flag in hand for civil rights.
James Armstrong was a barber, a foot soldier, and foremost, a civil rights activist.
"He was a beautiful combination of a very unassuming gentleman who also lived by his convictions and was very proud to share those with anyone who asked," said Laura Anderson, an archivist with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
It's been less than a day since he passed away and now those who knew him are mourning his death.
"I'll miss his demeanor. I'll miss what he stood for. I'll miss what he believed in," said Shirley Floyd, close friend and fellow activist of Mr. Armstrong. "What I remember mostly about Mr. Armstrong is that he was a quiet, and I mean quiet giant. He did a lot of things but you never heard him speak about it. You never heard him talk."
Despite his gentle demeanor, he not only helped integrate Graymont Elementary School in 1963, but he also carried the American flag from Selma to Montgomery every year from 1965 until 2008.
"His biggest cause was to make sure that every single individual in the United States had equal rights and an equal chance to excel in life," explained Floyd.
And because of that, he is someone that will always be remembered in Birmingham. Not for his haircuts, but for his dedication to the Civil Rights Movement---a legacy that will live on for years.
Armstrong died of heart complications. He was 86.
