“IT WAS NEVER ABOUT A HOT DOG AND A COKE®!”
“This book is awesome and eye opening. This is a book everyone, regardless of race, religion or creed, should read. I hope teachers everywhere will consider this book as part of curriculum in American History classes. I also hope it can be a tool to opening people's eyes to the damage stupidity and ignorance can bring. Bless Mr. Hurst for this non-media biased peek into the events of that era in our history.”
Sabrina Sumshion-Sabrina Reviews
“This informative memoir is about a dangerous time. The events are a part of our history, and through Rodney’s story, we learn more about the people and groups involved and the courage it took to sit. The book is well written and well edited. Thanks, Rodney, for taking the time.”
Kaye Trout-Midwest Book Reviews
“I lived in Jacksonville for a short period of time so the references to certain streets were familiar to me but most of the history of the black community in that area was not at all. I feel like I learned a lot by reading Hurst’s book, “It was never about a hot dog and a Coke!,” and I think it would be a wonderful addition to the required reading list of any history class or to anyone who wants to educate themselves of the events that occurred in America’s past.”
Kam Aures-Rebecca Reads
“With all the adventure of a war novel, the book takes you to all the places history was made. It takes you to the front lines, the battles and the victories of the marches and the sit-ins. With such good attention to actual events and the truth of what took place, this book makes you one with the protestors. You become a part of the movement and feel what they were feeling. I enjoyed “It was never about a hot dog and a Coke” and thought it was well-written and very nicely presented. The quality of the print, the front and back cover art and the reprints of historic pictures; all made for an interesting read. This historic 204 page book is a fast and informative read and I gave it my well-deserved A, and recommend it to the general audience.”
William Phenn-Reader Views
“News coverage of this event, showing bloodied young protesters helped pave the way for the eventual success of the movement in the South. This record of the events leading up to that brutal time should be required reading for all young people, especially those who may have forgotten the efforts that were made and the sacrifices were suffered in the name of gaining the right to drink from any water fountain you choose, ride on public transportation wherever you might like to sit and to eat in any restaurant. IT WAS NEVER ABOUT A HOT DOG AND A COKE joins the cannon of growing knowledge and wisdom gained from the Civil Rights movement.”
Randy O’Brien-Roundtable Reviews
“Whether you are black or white, it is hard to read this book without experiencing grief, horror and dismay over these events which happened only a few short decades ago. WingSpan Press deserves kudos for printing it—but this book should have been published by a major press. (Any university press in Florida, for example would have been enhanced and honored by printing it.) It is my hope that in the future, historians will look to this excellent little book to get the inside story of what really happened at a sit-in at a white lunchroom in Jacksonville in 1960. What lead to it—and what followed. There is history to be ashamed of here—but also heroes to be proud of. This is a book that every American who cares about truth and history should read and appreciate.”
Rod Clark- Bookreview.com
“IT WAS NEVER ABOUT A HOT DOG AND A COKE delivers the expected, and the unexpected, about one incident of many staged sit-ins across America, back when the vast majority of America's black citizens lived marginalized lives at the hands of racial hatred and Jim Crow laws. Hurst repeats the lesson "Freedom is not free" throughout the theme of the book, a very well-written, well-edited story that help us to understand the ongoing struggles of racism that must still be attacked in this hour, 40 years after the death of Dr. King. The idea, per the author, is not to be racially divisive or to live in the past, but to make certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that America knows and understands that its black citizens will never again be subjected to legalized abuse.”
Marjani of the RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers
Author Rodney L. Hurst, Sr. offers a historical gift to the literary world in his memoir It Was Never About a Hot Dog and a Coke. Hurst provides a detailed account of his involvement in the August 27, 1960 sit-ins at Jacksonville, Florida whites-only lunch counters. The demonstration erupted in violence instigated by a white mob wielding baseball bats and ax handles. The day became known as Ax Handle Saturday. This event elevated a young Hurst to the position of civil rights fighter and shaped the life of a man who continues to be vocal about the plight of African Americans in the United States.
Hurst was only eleven-years-old when he joined the Youth Council National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) under the encouragement of his junior high school American History teacher, Rutledge Pearson. Through the years, Pearson became Hurst’s mentor and friend. The admiration that Hurst feels for his late teacher is expressed throughout the pages of this book.
“How do you maintain your dignity in a segregated society designed to take your dignity? You continue to hold your head high (19).”
Jacksonville in 1960 was typical of many southern towns. Jim Crow laws were both real and enforced in churches, schools, and retail stores. The Youth Council, led by Pearson, Hurst, and other prominent adult figures in the NAACP, strategically and non-violently pushed for the integration of white lunch counters in Woolworth, Kress, and McCrory Department stores. Hurst, who at sixteen-years-old was president of the Youth Council, and his peers—young and courageous junior high and high school students—sat quietly at lunch counters as white waitresses and managers refused to serve them. And the white patrons tormented them with racial slurs and physical assaults. The violence that took place on August 27th was the white community’s response to the on-going sit-ins, but the blood that was spilled that day involved blacks who were not even a part of the Youth Council’s cause.
I am writing this review in the month of April during the week of the fortieth anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination and nearly three weeks after Barack Obama’s speech on race in America. As I read about the sit-ins and the responses of some white citizens in Jacksonville (Hurst makes a point of highlighting whites who were supportive of the Youth Council’s efforts), I frequently turned away from the book. The images the narrative conjures up were disturbing. As an African American woman, I have grown-up seeing the type of images Hurst describes. But as a mother with a son who is now only a year younger than Hurst was when he was leading this group of young people, I am disgusted by the cowardice that drove a mob of so-called adults to attack children.
Reading this book while absorbing the significance of the aforementioned events left me raw and also proud. Proud that Hurst was courageous enough to participate in the Civil Rights Movement and proud that he continues to serve the cause over forty years later.
“When we started sit-in demonstrations, we wanted everyone to know eating a hot dog and drinking a Coke would not be our focus. Human dignity and respect would be our fundamental focus… (55).”
It Was Never About a Hot Dog and a Coke is a dramatic, effective account of demonstrations that contributed to the shaping of civil rights for African Americans in the United States. The author’s offering of historical detail is a gift that should be shared with the young and the old as proof that individuals can permanently alter oppressive systems that ultimately affect us all.
Hurst was only eleven-years-old when he joined the Youth Council National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) under the encouragement of his junior high school American History teacher, Rutledge Pearson. Through the years, Pearson became Hurst’s mentor and friend. The admiration that Hurst feels for his late teacher is expressed throughout the pages of this book.
“How do you maintain your dignity in a segregated society designed to take your dignity? You continue to hold your head high (19).”
Jacksonville in 1960 was typical of many southern towns. Jim Crow laws were both real and enforced in churches, schools, and retail stores. The Youth Council, led by Pearson, Hurst, and other prominent adult figures in the NAACP, strategically and non-violently pushed for the integration of white lunch counters in Woolworth, Kress, and McCrory Department stores. Hurst, who at sixteen-years-old was president of the Youth Council, and his peers—young and courageous junior high and high school students—sat quietly at lunch counters as white waitresses and managers refused to serve them. And the white patrons tormented them with racial slurs and physical assaults. The violence that took place on August 27th was the white community’s response to the on-going sit-ins, but the blood that was spilled that day involved blacks who were not even a part of the Youth Council’s cause.
I am writing this review in the month of April during the week of the fortieth anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination and nearly three weeks after Barack Obama’s speech on race in America. As I read about the sit-ins and the responses of some white citizens in Jacksonville (Hurst makes a point of highlighting whites who were supportive of the Youth Council’s efforts), I frequently turned away from the book. The images the narrative conjures up were disturbing. As an African American woman, I have grown-up seeing the type of images Hurst describes. But as a mother with a son who is now only a year younger than Hurst was when he was leading this group of young people, I am disgusted by the cowardice that drove a mob of so-called adults to attack children.
Reading this book while absorbing the significance of the aforementioned events left me raw and also proud. Proud that Hurst was courageous enough to participate in the Civil Rights Movement and proud that he continues to serve the cause over forty years later.
“When we started sit-in demonstrations, we wanted everyone to know eating a hot dog and drinking a Coke would not be our focus. Human dignity and respect would be our fundamental focus… (55).”
It Was Never About a Hot Dog and a Coke is a dramatic, effective account of demonstrations that contributed to the shaping of civil rights for African Americans in the United States. The author’s offering of historical detail is a gift that should be shared with the young and the old as proof that individuals can permanently alter oppressive systems that ultimately affect us all.
Melissa Levine, Independent Professional Book Reviewers
“Unless WE Tell It...It Never Gets Told!"
A real eye-opener, Rodney Hurst's 2015 book Unless We Tell It...It Never Gets Told! is a version of American history that is very different than the one taught in schools. The author's agenda is crystal clear: to face off "An Incomplete and Dishonest American History" [sic]; to tell the story of at least some of the "millions of Blacks, whose stories are often neither told nor heard, let alone published..." (Preface, ix); and to provide an explanation and analysis of the issues and manifestations of racism in America.
Section one is a chain of biographies woven skillfully together to create a strong tapestry of pride, integrity and world class achievements, spanning over centuries and connecting in a specific geographical location: Jacksonville, Florida.
For me, who spent the past ten years in Jacksonville, FL teaching school in Duval County, and encountered both shocking examples of racism and seemingly unfounded incidents of "playing the race card", these mini biographies are individual gems. Hurst's heroes represent a wide range of the highest national and, in several cases, international achievements, starting from the 19th century. Artists, educators, union leaders, senators, Olympic champion athletes, law and military men, and preachers share the first 195 pages. All of them are icons in Black history, yet most of them are unsung heroes.
The author’s research and documentation of the lives of these extraordinary players and shapers of history are beyond impressive. Even though the biographical details are at times overwhelming, the tone is infused with palpable respect and pride. The fact that many of the contemporary heroes are Hurst’s personal acquaintances or friends makes his voice even more authentic. Anecdotes and interviews add an intimate touch to the portraits which balances out the potential dryness of the condensed biographical details.
Section two is a series of essays that create a chronological retake on US history from the beginnings of slavery to today, à la Rodney L. Hurst Sr., civil rights activist, two-term councilman, TV personality and award winning author. Complete with notes, photography credits and index, Hurst's book provides a well-supported perspective of Black history with convincing facts and academic analysis.
With Unless We Tell It..., Hurst delivered a powerful punch in the face of all who are trying to trivialize or deny the existence of racism in America. True to his words, "There is no learning curve to fighting racism. You recognize racism, and you fight it or you don't fight it (pg. 107)", he fights. Beyond pointing out the inaccuracy and bias of American history that is being handed over to the next generation, he actually stepped up to rewrite the chapters he felt were distorted or missing.
Rodney L. Hurst Sr. could easily claim a chapter in his own book. He is a fighter, a shaper and curator of Black history. His mission might be centuries old, but he chose 21st century weapons: educated intelligence, academic argument, and a dogged perseverance for unveiling the truth to move the world forward as, in his words, "The Struggle Continues".
Section one is a chain of biographies woven skillfully together to create a strong tapestry of pride, integrity and world class achievements, spanning over centuries and connecting in a specific geographical location: Jacksonville, Florida.
For me, who spent the past ten years in Jacksonville, FL teaching school in Duval County, and encountered both shocking examples of racism and seemingly unfounded incidents of "playing the race card", these mini biographies are individual gems. Hurst's heroes represent a wide range of the highest national and, in several cases, international achievements, starting from the 19th century. Artists, educators, union leaders, senators, Olympic champion athletes, law and military men, and preachers share the first 195 pages. All of them are icons in Black history, yet most of them are unsung heroes.
The author’s research and documentation of the lives of these extraordinary players and shapers of history are beyond impressive. Even though the biographical details are at times overwhelming, the tone is infused with palpable respect and pride. The fact that many of the contemporary heroes are Hurst’s personal acquaintances or friends makes his voice even more authentic. Anecdotes and interviews add an intimate touch to the portraits which balances out the potential dryness of the condensed biographical details.
Section two is a series of essays that create a chronological retake on US history from the beginnings of slavery to today, à la Rodney L. Hurst Sr., civil rights activist, two-term councilman, TV personality and award winning author. Complete with notes, photography credits and index, Hurst's book provides a well-supported perspective of Black history with convincing facts and academic analysis.
With Unless We Tell It..., Hurst delivered a powerful punch in the face of all who are trying to trivialize or deny the existence of racism in America. True to his words, "There is no learning curve to fighting racism. You recognize racism, and you fight it or you don't fight it (pg. 107)", he fights. Beyond pointing out the inaccuracy and bias of American history that is being handed over to the next generation, he actually stepped up to rewrite the chapters he felt were distorted or missing.
Rodney L. Hurst Sr. could easily claim a chapter in his own book. He is a fighter, a shaper and curator of Black history. His mission might be centuries old, but he chose 21st century weapons: educated intelligence, academic argument, and a dogged perseverance for unveiling the truth to move the world forward as, in his words, "The Struggle Continues".
Hedi Harrington, The Harrington Review
“Whether this book rates the 5 I gave it or a 4 on your list may depend on your personal connection to Jacksonville, Florida, but I recommend it to anyone interested in race relations in our country today.
Rodney Hurst is a friend and former colleague. We worked together at WJCT in Jacksonville where he was the first Black host of a local news program. He was a veteran of the Civil Rights movement. As a high school student in 1960, he helped to organize the first Jacksonville lunch counter sit-in, an event that provoked a vicious reaction from white thugs while police officers and the white power structure stood idly by, immortalized (though not locally reported at the time) as "Ax Handle Saturday." He and a friend went on to successfully integrated a downtown lunch counter for the first time.
He has never wavered from The Struggle in his years in insurance, news, and politics.
This, his second book, consists of two complementary narratives. The first is a series of 21 vignettes of people and institutions that have played roles in the civil rights struggle, most with some connection to Jacksonville. This previously untold Black history, hence the title, will be of greatest interest to those who have lived in Jacksonville, but there are some famous names here and some connections to the city that I am ashamed to admit I didn't know. The author's voice rises at the end of many of these mini-bios, almost like that of a Black preacher in the pulpit on Sunday morning.)
The second section is entitled "Confronting Racism." In 11 brief chapters, Hurst summarizes the thinking of a host of Black writers today, from Ta-Nehesi Coates to Charles M. Blow and adds his own perspectives. He recounts the history of the great reversal in racial progress that stretched from the administrations of Theodore Roosevelt to Woodrow Wilson; shows how a Black, segregated high school in Jacksonville came to be named after one of the most despicable characters in Southern history, General Nathan Bedford Forrest, and how a combination of Black school board members, activists, and students finally got the name expunged; and he recounts the still unfolding story of how the election of America's first Black president became a rallying cry for racists of every stripe to do and say things that would have been unthinkable only a few years before. All this in less than 100 pages.
While this second section stands on its own, there is a sense in which it cannot be fully comprehended without reading the personal stories of struggle that precede it. This makes the book a wonderful whole.
In the latter pages, it seems written for a young generation of Blacks too young to have lived through the struggle; it is a message he underscores with the three words that close the book: "The Struggle Continues."
But it is essential reading for non-Black audiences who find it difficult to relate to the continued sense of disenfranchisement felt by so many of their fellow citizens. It contains one of the most powerful, yet succinct arguments for reparations that I've encountered.
With this book, Rodney Hurst does us all a great service by presenting parts of our shared history that are untold or under recognized. It should serve as a model for other local historians who want to preserve the stories that made their communities what they are today.”
Rodney Hurst is a friend and former colleague. We worked together at WJCT in Jacksonville where he was the first Black host of a local news program. He was a veteran of the Civil Rights movement. As a high school student in 1960, he helped to organize the first Jacksonville lunch counter sit-in, an event that provoked a vicious reaction from white thugs while police officers and the white power structure stood idly by, immortalized (though not locally reported at the time) as "Ax Handle Saturday." He and a friend went on to successfully integrated a downtown lunch counter for the first time.
He has never wavered from The Struggle in his years in insurance, news, and politics.
This, his second book, consists of two complementary narratives. The first is a series of 21 vignettes of people and institutions that have played roles in the civil rights struggle, most with some connection to Jacksonville. This previously untold Black history, hence the title, will be of greatest interest to those who have lived in Jacksonville, but there are some famous names here and some connections to the city that I am ashamed to admit I didn't know. The author's voice rises at the end of many of these mini-bios, almost like that of a Black preacher in the pulpit on Sunday morning.)
The second section is entitled "Confronting Racism." In 11 brief chapters, Hurst summarizes the thinking of a host of Black writers today, from Ta-Nehesi Coates to Charles M. Blow and adds his own perspectives. He recounts the history of the great reversal in racial progress that stretched from the administrations of Theodore Roosevelt to Woodrow Wilson; shows how a Black, segregated high school in Jacksonville came to be named after one of the most despicable characters in Southern history, General Nathan Bedford Forrest, and how a combination of Black school board members, activists, and students finally got the name expunged; and he recounts the still unfolding story of how the election of America's first Black president became a rallying cry for racists of every stripe to do and say things that would have been unthinkable only a few years before. All this in less than 100 pages.
While this second section stands on its own, there is a sense in which it cannot be fully comprehended without reading the personal stories of struggle that precede it. This makes the book a wonderful whole.
In the latter pages, it seems written for a young generation of Blacks too young to have lived through the struggle; it is a message he underscores with the three words that close the book: "The Struggle Continues."
But it is essential reading for non-Black audiences who find it difficult to relate to the continued sense of disenfranchisement felt by so many of their fellow citizens. It contains one of the most powerful, yet succinct arguments for reparations that I've encountered.
With this book, Rodney Hurst does us all a great service by presenting parts of our shared history that are untold or under recognized. It should serve as a model for other local historians who want to preserve the stories that made their communities what they are today.”
Jim Lewis, Goodreads.com
“Through a series of deftly lined vignettes, Author Hurst brings the national battle for Civil Rights down to the city level of Jacksonville, Florida. He writes of local persons, some unheralded, who advanced the cause. In Part II, he takes a broader, historical bent, ending in the celebratory election of Barack Obama, while acknowledging the battle for Black Civil Rights has not yet been.
This book would be worth its purchase price solely for the author's personal recollections of his role in the Struggle, however, he makes a broader point, beginning with the title of the book, Unless WE tell It, It Never Gets Told. He observes Black people have been given short shrift in the annals of history, and their economic input into the wealth of the nation has never been appreciated. For any student of history, this is an enlightening work; for young Black men and women, it goes much further than the cursory mentions of Black history they are apt to find in their schoolbooks. For everyone, this is a good read.”
“I loved this book. I grew up white in this town in the 60's. My world was uninformed and untouched by Mr. Hurst's world. Now I know why! We never heard that they had their own version of the newspaper or that accomplishments of our African American neighbors were just ignored. We were taught that Florida was not really involved in the unrest happening in the rest of the South. We marveled at the black high school bands in our parades due to the jazzy performances compared to the staid military presentation of the white bands. But we didn't ever go near those schools or neighborhoods. He is right. They do have to tell their own stories and I hope more white people will read this book and gain a deep appreciation for the contributions of our African American neighbors. Today, I am embarrassed and ashamed of my ignorance.”
“Excellent read! I'm glad that Rodney Hurst is telling it, because my school did not. This history book is very informative and should be read by all.”
“Very informative and contains a lot of unknown history with which all Jacksonville residents ought to familiarize themselves. Is also history of which entire country should be aware.”
This book would be worth its purchase price solely for the author's personal recollections of his role in the Struggle, however, he makes a broader point, beginning with the title of the book, Unless WE tell It, It Never Gets Told. He observes Black people have been given short shrift in the annals of history, and their economic input into the wealth of the nation has never been appreciated. For any student of history, this is an enlightening work; for young Black men and women, it goes much further than the cursory mentions of Black history they are apt to find in their schoolbooks. For everyone, this is a good read.”
“I loved this book. I grew up white in this town in the 60's. My world was uninformed and untouched by Mr. Hurst's world. Now I know why! We never heard that they had their own version of the newspaper or that accomplishments of our African American neighbors were just ignored. We were taught that Florida was not really involved in the unrest happening in the rest of the South. We marveled at the black high school bands in our parades due to the jazzy performances compared to the staid military presentation of the white bands. But we didn't ever go near those schools or neighborhoods. He is right. They do have to tell their own stories and I hope more white people will read this book and gain a deep appreciation for the contributions of our African American neighbors. Today, I am embarrassed and ashamed of my ignorance.”
“Excellent read! I'm glad that Rodney Hurst is telling it, because my school did not. This history book is very informative and should be read by all.”
“Very informative and contains a lot of unknown history with which all Jacksonville residents ought to familiarize themselves. Is also history of which entire country should be aware.”
Never Forget Who You Are
"Never Forget Who You Are: Conversations About Racism and Identity Development,” written by Authors Rodney L. Hurst Sr. and Rudy F. Jamison Jr. ED. D-prepare to embark on an unusual journey. Both are Black men, but one journey is through the eyes of a 50-year-old person and the other a 75-year-old. An unusual vision, as one has essentially viewed the Black diaspora starting before the advent of the civil rights movement and the other one after the movement.
Both authors emphatically state that their journeys began in different places and times but with the same results, outlook, views, and moments! Being Black at any age is being Black!
Well, I’ll start this review by stating one thing right out the gate; this “work” blew my mind from the first page! Out of the hundreds of books I’ve read or reviewed, this book is the only book I actually used a yellow highlighter to assist me with. When I state “works,” that’s exactly how I would describe “Never Forget Who You Are” by Rodney L. Hurst and Dr. Rudy F. Jamison Jr.
For me, most books are books, but this material and its contents, observations, proven clauses, and elegantly presented material is a work of ART! I’m not able to present to the potential reader all that this book is, only that everyone, including All races, should get this book. The syntax of the work is brilliantly written in a way that anyone would appreciate.
The cadence just flows from one chapter to the next with none of what I called “hard breaks” (stays on track). The brilliancy of the work is you have two individuals from different decades of life presenting their unique total experiences. The “facts” presented are indisputable.
The work isn’t “accusatory” in a bad way putting no one race down, but it isn’t afraid to call a spade a spade! And please note…this material isn’t a rant! The various presentation of facts about how America not only exists but currently operates will clearly open your eyes.
This is precisely why I encourage White readers to examine the book. If you’re Black you’ll understand not only the “fight” in being Black, but the authors present various ways to “never deny self.”
People of other races reading this will also have a better understanding of the complexities of racism as well.
Lastly, this “work” should be required reading for all young people, Black or White in high school or higher education. A work of ART….Five stars easily." -Reader Views
"Never Forget Who You Are: Conversations About Racism and Identity Development,” written by Authors Rodney L. Hurst Sr. and Rudy F. Jamison Jr. ED. D-prepare to embark on an unusual journey. Both are Black men, but one journey is through the eyes of a 50-year-old person and the other a 75-year-old. An unusual vision, as one has essentially viewed the Black diaspora starting before the advent of the civil rights movement and the other one after the movement.
Both authors emphatically state that their journeys began in different places and times but with the same results, outlook, views, and moments! Being Black at any age is being Black!
Well, I’ll start this review by stating one thing right out the gate; this “work” blew my mind from the first page! Out of the hundreds of books I’ve read or reviewed, this book is the only book I actually used a yellow highlighter to assist me with. When I state “works,” that’s exactly how I would describe “Never Forget Who You Are” by Rodney L. Hurst and Dr. Rudy F. Jamison Jr.
For me, most books are books, but this material and its contents, observations, proven clauses, and elegantly presented material is a work of ART! I’m not able to present to the potential reader all that this book is, only that everyone, including All races, should get this book. The syntax of the work is brilliantly written in a way that anyone would appreciate.
The cadence just flows from one chapter to the next with none of what I called “hard breaks” (stays on track). The brilliancy of the work is you have two individuals from different decades of life presenting their unique total experiences. The “facts” presented are indisputable.
The work isn’t “accusatory” in a bad way putting no one race down, but it isn’t afraid to call a spade a spade! And please note…this material isn’t a rant! The various presentation of facts about how America not only exists but currently operates will clearly open your eyes.
This is precisely why I encourage White readers to examine the book. If you’re Black you’ll understand not only the “fight” in being Black, but the authors present various ways to “never deny self.”
People of other races reading this will also have a better understanding of the complexities of racism as well.
Lastly, this “work” should be required reading for all young people, Black or White in high school or higher education. A work of ART….Five stars easily." -Reader Views
