Explore Black History

August 3, 2023

An oral history interview and conversation with author Rodney Hurst. It consists of three versions of a digital video recording, two camera card files (2025.12.7.1.1 and 2025.12.7.1.2, .mxf files) and one edited file (2025.12.7.1.3, .mov file).
Mr. Rodney L. Hurst, Sr. was interviewed by Temple University student James Gray on August 3, 2023, as part of the Social Justice Conversations Oral History Project. The interview took place at the home of Mr. Hurst’s son in Jacksonville, FL. At the time of the interview, Mr. Hurst was 79 years old.
This oral history interview consists of two distinct sections: an “interview” section (part 1) and a “conversation” section (part 2, 01:16:44). In part 1, Mr. Hurst discusses his early life and educational experiences in Aiken, South Carolina. He discusses the fatal bombing of Harriette and Harry Moore’s home in 1951. He describes his involvement with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Youth Council, sit-ins at the Jacksonville Woolworth’s in 1960, and the events of “Ax Handle Saturday.” Mr. Hurst also discusses his decision to join the Air Force, recounts a story about being targeted for arrest because of his civil rights activism, and recalls serving in the honor guard for President Kennedy just before his assassination. He recalls his time at the March on Washington, his search for a job in Jacksonville, and his time working at Prudential. In part 2, Mr. Hurst and Gray discuss the history of racism and white supremacy in the US, race and policing, and the suppression of Black history, including how Christian religious teachings have been “Europeanized.” Mr. Hurst also discusses his involvement with renaming Westside High School in Jacksonville, and the importance of young people in movements for social change. Finally, Mr. Hurst reflects on the responsibility the Black community has in teaching Black history.

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

Social Justice Conversations Oral History Project

Time-based Media - Moving Images

Civil Rights Movement
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2025.12.7.1

video recordings
oral histories
digital media - born digital

© Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

digital

Duration (2025.12.7.1.3, edited): 2 hr., 14 min., 55 sec.
File size: 223 GB

Title • Rodney Hurst Oral History Interview

nmaahc_2025.12.7.1

NMAAHC

RODNEY HURST ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

2020s • 1940s

Gray, James • Edward Waters University • Chambers, Candace Dane • Hutcherson, Trudy • United States Air Force • Anderson, Trezzvant • DeSantis, Ron • Hurst, Rodney L. • Pearson, Rutledge • Westside High School • National Museum of African American History and Culture • F. W. Woolworth Company • Forrest, Nathan Bedford • Moore, Harry Tyson • Kennedy, John F. • Moore, Harriette Vyda Simms • NAACP Youth Council

Duval County • Aiken County • United States • North and Central America • Aiken • Florida • Jacksonville • South Carolina

White supremacy movements • Activism • Communities • Segregation • Violence • Civil Rights • U.S. History, 1961-1969 • Youth • Resistance • Discrimination • Education • Labor unions • March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom • Race • Race riots • Hate crimes • Civil rights • U.S. History, 2001- • Military

Christians • African Americans

City • Jacksonville • County • Duval County • State • Florida • Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • City • Aiken • County • Aiken County • State • South Carolina

Video recordings • digital media - born digital • Oral histories (document genres) • Interviews

Video recordings

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