University of Georgia philosophy professor and 2018 Democratic Congressional Candidate Richard Winfield sits outside his office. For Winfield, both career tracks compliment each other. “It’s not a question of there being a contradiction between the two, or having to abandon philosophical ideas. I think we needed to be guided by philosophy,” Winfield said. “That’s why I think that when we talk about improving our education, and our public education, in particular, we should have room for philosophy to be instructed. If you think about what is involved in doing what’s right, you, in some respect, can only achieve what’s right if you make use of political power and the law.” Photo by Zoe Peterson
For University of Georgia philosophy professor, former Clarke Central High School parent and 2018 Democratic Congressional Candidate Richard Dien Winfield, politics and philosophy have always been intertwined.
“How many in this room feel like you’ve been called an impractical idealist?” 2016 Democratic Senate candidate Jim Barksdale said to a crowd at the East Athens Educational Dance Center on Jan. 13.
Several crowd members, while holding “Winfield for Congress. Guaranteed jobs. Fair wages,” posters, raised their hands. 2018 Democratic Congressional Candidate Richard Dien Winfield raised his hand with them.
Some laughed at their seemingly universal experience.
“My message to you Richard, and everyone here, is don’t believe it for a minute because we’re the practical realists,” Barksdale said.
One thing is for sure — Winfield, father of Clarke Central High School alumni Kalindi, Manas and Rasik, doesn’t believe he is an impractical realist, as he has been called before.
“I think that if you look at how the Democratic Party has been losing ground, it’s because it’s failing to put forward a bold social rights agenda. It’s not offering real answers,” Winfield said. “That’s why someone like (President Donald Trump) has been able to woo large portions of the White, working class. That has to change. That involves a positive campaign. ”
Winfield sees connections between the work of Civil Rights leaders, like Martin Luther King Jr., and his candidacy, which has its foundation in a promise of guaranteed jobs and fair wages. Winfield hopes to continue the work activists began and extend it further.
“The very triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement have shown that those political and civil freedoms are not enough,” Winfield said. “Despite those triumphs, we have become the most unequal society in the developed world. We have become the nation in the developed world with the least social mobility.”
Although Winfield sees social mobility as unattainable for a lot of Americans, it is something he has experience with. Born in Queens, New York, Winfield’s parents were children of impoverished immigrants, who managed to find financial stability.
“My father ended up going into business. He had worked himself up from being kind of a stock boy in a shoe store and became executive in some companies,” Winfield said. “My mother went back to school and became a high school science teacher. They were the only ones in their families who were able to buy a house in the suburbs.”
From a young age, Winfield understood the need for activism. Growing up in the ‘60s, an era dominated by social movements, Winfield saw the beginnings of revolution, and even joined in. While attending Roslin High School, he wrote controversial editorials for the school newspaper. He worked in Franklin, Louisiana with the Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union.
At Yale University, he supported the efforts of striking campus workers.
“I was a part of the first class that had a majority of public school kids in it. Yale was undergoing a lot of transformations,” Winfield said. “The students militated for coeducation and that actually took place while I was there. A lot was happening.”
At the same time, his love for philosophy started to bud, leading to some indecision about a career.
“I was considering where I would go next. Would I get involved in union activities, political activities, in terms of some kind of vocation, or would I end up studying philosophy,” Winfield said. “I had a certain degree of uncertainty about what was the true character of justice.”
In the front row, Pastor Charles Knox Jr. sat with Winfield during Barksdale’s introduction. Then, Knox gave his speech.
“Richard has always been a man of his word. That’s what we need. We need to get rid of the old and in with the new. ( We need to) get rid of the lies and in with the truth,” Knox said. “I see no better person to put in office than a humble man, a man who can listen and a man who can take time to explain to you the things that he feels in his heart. This is Richard.”
Winfield and his wife, lawyer Sujata Gupta Winfield, look on — Winfield with a look of focus, Sujata with a look of pride.
At first, Winfield picked philosophy as his main career choice. After looking for a job for years, he was able to land one as a philosophy professor at the University of Georgia, where he has worked for 35 years. But, after seeing issues with the current political climate, Winfield decided to run for Congress.
“I had really worked out all my ideas over the years. My 21st book is coming out later this spring,” Winfield said. “Much of (my) work has to do with issues concerning justice. So, I felt like I knew what should be done in the grand scheme of things.”
Winfield announced his intention to run for Congress to his family around Thanksgiving in 2016.
“I think they weren’t expecting it. Maybe they were a little skeptical. But, I think they became more and more excited by the idea as time went on,” Winfield said. “They’re giving me tremendous support.”
Kalindi agrees with Winfield. Though at first she did not love the idea, she wanted to be supportive of he father.
“When he first told me he was running for Congress, I was terrified. I’m extremely possessive over my dad and I know how brutal this race can be,” Kalindi said. “But after he said he wanted it, I chose to support him.”
The crowd cheered as Winfield walked up. He was the man they came for. He was the man on the posters, on the banners, in the articles.
He stood in front of a “Winfield for Congress” banner — one that had an abstract illustration of himself. Winfield’s curly, white hair and glasses matched the illustration perfectly. That day, he wore a dark suit, a blue button-down shirt and his best election-winning smile.
“We need to bring to Washington a bold program of social rights, anchored in guaranteed jobs,” Winfield said. “The solution to our economic insecurity consists in a bold social rights agenda.”
According to the Hatch Act, state employees cannot run for national or state-level offices. So, as a UGA employee, Winfield went on unpaid leave on Jan. 2.
“For the average employee, if you’re going to run seriously, you need to do it full time, which means you need to take off work. You have no income, no benefits and in most cases, you can’t expect to get your job back,” Winfield said. “I have no salary now. But, I have the one advantage — I’m on unpaid leave, so if I lose, I can go back to my job. I’m not at the point now where I want to stop teaching.”
But, Winfield and his team are dedicated to sticking with the campaign regardless of setbacks or workloads.
“It’s a lot of work. It’s stressful at times, but it’s really fun and interesting,” Campaign Manager David Herald said. “It’s fulfilling like nothing else I’ve ever done before. There have been days when I worked for more than 12 hours. If it were any other job, I think I’d get burnt out but I don’t because the energy of what we’re trying to do here keeps me going.”
On Jan. 13 at the East Athens Educational Dance Center, Winfield held his campaign kickoff. For campaign volunteer Andrea Farnham, the event was a success.
“It was good energy,” Farnham said. “To me, just seeing people show up and seeing that people are interested in what he’s saying, that gives me hope that people like his message and want to get involved.”
Those who stayed a little longer once the campaign kickoff ended were in for some on-air time. Winfield wanted to film a promotional video and asked attendees to join him. Shortly thereafter, a crowd gathered behind Winfield with posters in hand.
The video took a few tries. The music had to be turned off. Winfield had to fix his position. But soon, Winfield delivered his last few lines of the event.
“My name is Richard Dien Winfield and I’m running for Congress in Georgia’s 10th district. Join me in giving everybody a guaranteed job starting at $20 an hour. Thank you.”
