By Gretchen Webster

WESTPORT — A capacity crowd was on hand Sunday for the town’s 19th annual tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to hear award-winning producer Shonda Rhimes discuss the impact of the civil rights leader’s legacy nearly six decades after his death.

Rhimes was joined at the Westport Library by fellow Westport resident, author/filmmaker Trey Ellis, for the program’s keynote discussion. The event was co-sponsored by TEAM Westport, the Westport/Weston Clergy Association, the Westport Library and the Westport Country Playhouse.

The local King commemoration continues today (Jan. 20), with a 7 p.m. screening of the documentary, “King in the Wilderness,” at the Westport Country Playhouse. Ellis is an executive producer of the film, which chronicles the final three years of King’s life.

Although Rhimes is widely known for producing popular television series, including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal” and “Bridgerton,” among others, her inclusive message Sunday was not just for those in the world of TV and film production — not even just for fans.

“I was raised to see that obstacles were not obstacles, but hills to climb — and that I had to find a way around. … You can’t go out and imitate someone else, you have to be true to yourself, be authentically you,” she told several hundred people in the audience.

Rhimes is known for breaking barriers for people of color, particularly Black women. She was one of the first Black female producers in the entertainment field, and started a program in England training and hiring production crew members of color.

She was told “that you can’t hire a Black female lead” when she chose actress Kerry Washington to star in “Scandal,” Rhimes said, and worked to change practices that limited job opportunities for minority actors.

“Women and people of color aren’t paid equally,” Rhimes said. Yet, “the shows that have more diversity make more money.”

Rhimes and Ellis touched on results of last year’s presidential election, and while they agreed that it’s impossible to tell anyone how they should vote, both were clearly disappointed by the election of Donald Trump even though 97 percent of Black women voted for Vice President Kamala Harris, according to Rhimes.

“My personal candidate didn’t win,” Ellis commented, “and our country is going down the toilet.” 

Now, Rhimes said, “We have more of a responsibility than ever to tell stories” about the benefits of diversity. “People are afraid of suppression. I’m not interested in being suppressed or suppressing anyone else.”

The MLK program was introduced by Harold Bailey Jr., chair of TEAM Westport, who was applauded when he spoke about the importance of the diversity program, “No Place For Hate,” in Westport’s public schools.

Also speaking briefly was U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who called the Westport Library his “favorite,” and said he later would be leaving on a train to Washington, D.C., for Trump’s inauguration Monday. “Believe me, I’d rather be here,” he said. 

“I thank you for being foot soldiers for justice. Keep hope alive for the next four years,” said the senator, a Democrat serving his third term.

Rhimes also appeared at the Westport Library last June for a screening of her documentary, “Black Barbie,” and for the library’s Booked for the Evening fundraiser in June 2022.

Freelance writer Gretchen Webster, a Fairfield County journalist for many years, was editor of the Fairfield Minuteman and has taught journalism at New York and Southern Connecticut State universities.