Rodney L. Hurst, Sr. is a man whose life has been shaped by memory; memory of struggle, of culture, of sound, and of place. Known nationally as a civil rights activist, Historian, and award-winning author, Hurst is also a lifelong lover of music and a devoted steward of Jacksonville’s rich and often overlooked history.
As an author, Hurst has dedicated his voice to making sure that truth is not erased. His groundbreaking first book, It Was Never About a Hot Dog and a Coke®!,stands as the definitive account of the 1960 Jacksonville sit-ins and the violent events of Ax Handle Saturday. Written from lived experience, he was only sixteen when he helped lead the demonstrations. The book preserves a chapter of civil rights history that local media once ignored. Through his writing, Hurst does more than recount events; he restores dignity, context, and accuracy to the historical record.
“When you understand a story that’s a part of you, no matter how hateful that history is, it is history, nonetheless,” Hurst said. “You want to talk about equality…All men are created equal.”
That same commitment carries through his other works, including Unless WE Tell It…It Never Gets Told! and Never Forget Who You Are, as well as Black and Brilliant, written for young people. Across generations, Hurst’s books reflect a deep belief that identity, history, and self-worth are inseparable and that storytelling is a form of resistance.
“When you understand a story that’s a part of you, no matter how hateful that history is,it is history, nonetheless,”
Music, too, has been a constant presence in Hurst’s life. Gospel, rhythm and blues, jazz, and the songs of Black America became part of his emotional education, shaping his sense of culture and community. For him, music is not separate from history; it is history; an archive of feeling, faith, and survival that mirrors the Black experience in Jacksonville and beyond.
Above all, Hurst’s love for Jacksonville runs deep. A native son, he has spent decades documenting the city’s history, milestones, and unsung heroes. From serving on the Jacksonville City Council to chairing the Civil Rights Timeline Task Force, Hurst has worked to tell Jacksonville’s story honestly and completely. His image now appears on public murals, a fitting tribute for someone who has helped paint its historical landscape with truth.
Through his writing, his love for music, and his devotion to Jacksonville’s past, Rodney L. Hurst reminds us that history is not static. It lives in memory, melody, and the courage to tell the story.
