The town of Chesterton, Indiana is having a conversation about racism after a high school student shared a letter that he said he received from a classmate.
“Recently someone wrote me a racist letter at my school and it wasn’t just offensive, it was sickening,” said the student, Julian Blevins, in a video he posted on social media.
The 16-year-old also posted the letter on the What’s a happening in Chesterton Facebook page. It was taken down, “because it exposed something people didn’t want to face,” he said.
Blevins wrote that he’s been called the N-word multiple times at school.
He said he reported the letter to administrators and discussed it with his teacher.
“I told my teacher it happened in her classroom not to accuse her, but because it happened in her presence," he wrote. “I was suspended for 'disrespect.' All I did was speak up about what happened. Speaking up got me punished, not protected.”
He said he was suspended for two days.
Blevins said in his video that he “will not be silenced.”
He said, “Freedom of Speech exists for moments like this. It’s about integrity, and if you aren’t being true to yourself then you stand for nothing.”
He said after he originally posted the letter, it was exposed to more than 2,000 people. Others started sharing their stories.
The President of the Town Council, Erin Collins, addressed the issue during a public meeting this week.
“There is no place for racism, hate speech, or threats in our community and especially not in spaces that are meant to be safe for children,” she said.
“Words matter and when harmful behavior is minimized or left
unchallenged it grows. When it is addressed with clarity, accountability, and care, change becomes possible. This is a moment that calls on all of us parents, educators, neighbors, and leaders to talk with our children about what racism is, why it is wrong, and what they can do if they witness it in our community.”
She went on to say, “Teaching empathy, respect, and courage at home and in our schools is how we strengthen our community. Being a community means that we protect one another. It means speaking up when something is not right.
And it means choosing kindness and accountability over silence.”
Here's the post made by the student:
Please read-Chesterton High School Parents
My name is Julian Blevins, and I’ve dealt with racism at more than one school. Do I think it’s always a school problem? Not necessarily. But the way schools handle it…that’s the problem. I love Chesterton High School, I really do. But I’ve been called the N-word multiple times since coming here in 7th grade. It’s 2026 the 21st century. This shouldn’t still be happening.
A couple days before winter break, I received a racist letter.
I’m attaching it below so people can see what I mean. I told my teacher it happened in her classroom not to accuse her, but because it happened in her presence. I was suspended for “disrespect.” All I did was speak up about what happened. Speaking up got me punished, not protected.
And now, coming back from break, it’s still happening. I was called the N-word again over messages the same word I’ve heard in the halls, the same word that gets brushed off like it’s nothing. People call me derogatory names and act like I’m supposed to just take it. The excuse is always, “Other people say it.” But are those “other people” me? Are they my Black or brown friends who actually live with what that word means?
If any of us react verbally or physically we’re the ones who get in trouble. We should be able to stand up for ourselves. Last year at Chesterton Middle School, I reported several racist incidents, and they’d ask me, “Do you have proof?” But when I make a mistake or joke around too much, they don’t ask for proof they just give me detention or suspension. I take responsibility when I’m wrong, but I just want justice when I’m right.
It might be weird to say, but I’m one of the happiest, most joyful people ever. Even on bad days, I go the extra mile to make someone else smile.
I’ll stop at Starbucks on the way to school and pay for the person behind me. I just want people to have a good day but I don’t get that same respect because of somebody else’s child.
This isn’t just about Black students. It’s about all students of color who deal with this every day. Parents please, coming from a kid myself, talk to your kids. I know you don’t want them growing up facing racism, and I know you don’t want them being the ones causing it either. This isn’t about hate it’s about accountability and change.
I’m not posting this for attention. I’m posting this because it needs to be said. Because if nobody says anything, it never changes. I don’t want my future kids growing up in a world where this is still normal. We can do better. We have to do better.
And please if you don’t have anything positive or helpful to say, then don’t say anything at all