Remembering Ruben Burks

Age 86, Flint, Michigan
Passed away on April 20, 2020

Ruben Burks spent more than 60 years championing the work of women and people of color in the labor movement. "His real focus was on community, and making sure everyone had an opportunity to be their best self,” his grandson Tony Burks says. Known for his constant thumbs-up, Ruben encouraged his large family to face difficult situations with positivity and enthusiasm. He was the first African-American secretary-treasurer of the United Auto Workers, and even after he retired, he organized a group to protest the water supply problems in Flint.

Submitted by: Tony Burks (grandson)

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