Henry Winston

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Henry Winston

Henry M. Winston (April 2, 1911 – December 13, 1986) was an African American political leader, a Marxist activist, and a longtime member and leader of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA). He worked for civil rights and economic justice and is known for linking the fight against racism with the struggle for socialism.

Early life
- Born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Winston grew up in Mississippi and Kansas City, Missouri.
- He left high school because of poverty and, at 19, joined the Kansas City Unemployed Council, where he began organizing people.

Political career and World War II service
- Winston joined the Communist Party USA and rose to important positions, including leading the Young Communist League and serving on the CPUSA National Board.
- He supported fighting fascism in World War II and served in the U.S. Army, helping to liberate France. He was honorably discharged after the war.

Cold War era and legal trouble
- In 1948, during the early Cold War, Winston was part of the Foley Square trial under the Smith Act for advocating revolutionary ideas. He was convicted in 1949.
- He escaped while on bail and lived for a time underground, continuing party work and publishing material.
- He later surrendered and served time in Terre Haute, Indiana. His health worsened in prison, and he became permanently blind after inadequate medical treatment.
- President John F. Kennedy’s administration eventually granted him clemency, allowing him to seek medical treatment abroad. In 1961, the Supreme Court’s Noto v. United States decision limited the government’s ability to jail party leaders simply for their beliefs.

Leadership of CPUSA
- Winston was elected CPUSA Chairman in 1966, sharing leadership with Gus Hall. He held that position until his death in 1986.
- He spoke out against the Reagan era’s nuclear buildup and U.S.-backed wars in Central America, and he supported the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.

Later life and legacy
- Winston emphasized that the fight for Black equality should be tied to economic rights and class struggle. He argued that racism is used by powerful interests to maintain economic oppression, and he urged a united front of democratic and anti-monopoly forces.
- He published several books and essays, including Strategy for a Black Agenda and Class, Race, and Black Liberation.
- Winston died in Moscow, Soviet Union, while seeking medical treatment. He was awarded the Order of the October Revolution in 1976 for his work.

Selected works (brief list)
- Life Begins with Freedom (1937)
- Character Building and Education in the Spirit of Socialism (1939)
- Negro Liberation: A Goal for All Americans (1964)
- Strategy for a Black Agenda (1973)
- Class, Race, and Black Liberation (1977)
- The Crisis of the Black Panther Party (1971)

Henry Winston’s life reflects a long commitment to civil rights, anti-racist activism, and the idea that achieving true equality requires both political change and economic justice.