By John Schwing

WESTPORT — Amid recent reports of racist and antisemitic bullying in Westport’s public schools, awards were presented Monday to winners of a timely essay contest sponsored by TEAM Westport, the town’s multi-cultural advocacy committee.

This year’s Teen Diversity Essay Contest asked high school students to explore the challenging topic of when hate speech crosses the boundaries of constitutionally protected rights to free speech, particularly in a school environment.

Harold Bailey Jr., TEAM’s longtime chairman, presided over the awards ceremony Monday night at the Westport Library, which co-sponsors the contest.

First-place winner was Sophia Lopez for her essay, “Westport’s Contest of Conformity,” which came with a $1,000 prize.

Second place went to Olivia Morgeson, who received $750 for her essay, “Hate Speech Has No Home Here.”

Third-place winner Teya Ozgen was awarded $500 for her essay, “Do Schools Suppress First Amendment Rights?” 

All three finalists are students at Staples High School, although the 11th annual contest was open to any student who attends a Westport high school and to Westporters who go to high school elsewhere.

First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker told the gathering that a priority for her administration is to make Westport “a place where everyone feels like they belong.”

And, without mentioning specifics like the recent complaints about racist and antisemitic bullying in the town’s schools, Tooker acknowledged, “We have a lot of work to do in that arena.”

Bailey said that over 11 years the essay contest has had a “significant impact” on broader issues, such as in “our schools, on our attitudes in town and the initiatives we tackle.”

The contest, he said, shines a light on issues that has prompted Westport to address topics of diversity and inclusivity ahead of other communities, noting, “We’re in the midst of that right now … we’re not afraid to tackle what it is that’s been sitting out there under wraps for years.”

“We will work our way through this as a town because of our values and because of who we are, and that’s what we are committed to doing,” he added.

The winning essayists, Bailey said, represent “three more voices that will give us some insight into what is actually going on.”

One of the five judges for this year’s contest was Shonda Rhimes, the noted screenwriter and producer for television shows like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Bridgerton,” who also is a Westport resident.

Rhimes, who was unable to attend, in a message read by Bailey to the gathering, wrote: “Getting to know these young people through their voices on the page was a wonderful experience. It’s exciting to know that our community has such bright, thoughtful scholars. I wish them the best.”

Lopez, reading from her essay, said that she felt like an outsider at a young age because of her Hispanic heritage in overwhelmingly white Westport, a sense of isolation that grew stronger when she came out as homosexual in the seventh grade.

The challenge of balancing free speech versus hate speech, Lopez said, can be defined as, “How can one be a good person while still being honest and upfront about how they truly feel?”

One way, she said, is to address “inherent biases” in Westport’s culture where “homogeneity and unintentional emphasis on conformity can create an environment where those who do not fit the established norms are marginalized or targeted.”

In her essay, Morgeson wrote, “Hate speech does not allow for a diversity of opinion. When someone mocks your very being, they’re not looking to share their opinion and hear yours.

“They’re not seeking to learn. They’re looking to hurt.”

But defining hate speech, Morgeson added, is difficult. When a classmate told her to “go back to China,” the comment made her feel “anxious, embarrassed and alienated, but it did not make me feel unsafe,” because it was “ignorant and nonsensical.”

But racist comments with the threat of violence, such as, “Go back to China or I will hurt you,” would be another matter, she said.

After reading news reports about racist bullying in local schools, Morgeson said she could relate. “It’s the common minority experience in a white town — receiving unsolicited abrasive, racist comments at a young age.”

Ozgen recounted how her Chinese heritage has, at times, made her feel victimized by fellow students and even teachers.

“Asian hate is often disregarded and not taken seriously because Asians fit the model minority stereotype,” she said. 

“In reality, all racism is hate and freedom of speech that is hateful violates other people’s rights.”

Complete texts of the award-wining essays will be posted on the TEAM Westport website.

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John Schwing, the Westport Journal consulting editor, has held senior editorial and writing posts at southwestern Connecticut media outlets for four decades. Learn more about us here.