Hugh Burnett

Hugh Burnett (July 14, 1918 – September 29, 1991) was an African-Canadian carpenter and civil rights leader. A descendant of slaves, who came to Canada via the Underground Railroad, Hugh Burnett was a carpenter in the rural Canadian town of Dresden, Ontario. He was active in the National Unity Association, an anti-discrimination group which he co-founded; formed in 1948. At the time, Black people in Dresden and other Ontario towns were regularly refused service in restaurants, barber shops and stores.

History Burnett was born on July 14, 1918, on a farm outside of Dresden, Ontario, to Robert and Myrtle Burnett.

As a Black man, Burnett was subjected to racism. He was discriminated against for the first time when he was sixteen. After a white motorist ran out of gas, Burnett helped the man. The motorist insisted on going to lunch with him in Dresden. Despite being accompanied by the white motorist, Burnett was refused service. He was angered by being refused service and dedicated himself to fighting racism within Dresden.

Burnett's story is told in the book "Season of Rage: Hugh Burnett and the Struggle for Civil Rights".