Henry Winston was the National Chair of the Communist Party USA. He was born in Mississippi in 1911 and joined the Young Communist League USA at the age of 19. Winston participated in the National Hunger March to Washington in 1932, aided the defense of the Scotsboro Boys, and took part in the National Negro Congress and the Southern Conference for Human Welfare.
Starting in 1956, Winston was imprisoned under the Smith Act. While in prison, he became blind due to the deliberate neglect of his health by the prison authorities. He was released early in 1961 amidst world-wide protest.