“I’m going on strike,” 15-year-old Eleftheria Lialios declared, outraged by the racist nature of her high school history textbooks. For the next week, she marched tirelessly around Cooley High School, successfully convincing her classmates to join in and swaying her school to change its curriculum. This early act of defiance by Ms. Lialios—now a beloved substitute teacher at Latin—was just the beginning, propelling her into years of activism with the Black Panther Party in Detroit.
The Black Panther Party “was the era’s most influential militant black power organization,” according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The organization’s members opposed certain politicians, held the police accountable, and defended Black citizens against brutality. The Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, aiming to ensure that their efforts are remembered and that their story is told accurately, recently launched a heritage trail of historic landmarks for the party. The trail’s grand opening took place on Oct. 27 at the Better Boys Center for the Arts, located at 1512 S. Pulaski—just a 20-minute drive from Latin. The site offered free breakfast, a nod to the free meals program the Panthers hosted to uplift children in impoverished neighborhoods.
Ms. Lialios’ insatiable hunger for equality drove her to attend Wayne State University, a public university in Detroit with a rich history of activism. She became increasingly involved with the White Panthers, a branch of the Black Panther Party composed primarily of white revolutionaries. Her parents didn’t support her choice, and it was unsafe for a young woman to live alone, so Ms. Lialios married a man she barely knew to continue her education and advocacy. Their home was only a block away from the house of the leaders of the Fifth Estate newspaper, which hosted Black Panther and White Panther meetings. “We often strategized ways to give the struggling community free lunches and medical care,” Ms. Lialios said.
Ms. Lialios worked with other White Panthers to advance social justice in Detroit. “We were all about supporting the Black Panthers’ mission and realizing that if we didn’t step up for the injustice in the city, the whole city would get destroyed,” she said. The Black Panthers are often represented as a party of militant Black men who aimed to take over the government and harm white citizens, but this depiction was far from reality. “The mission was simply to get the underrepresented Black community the resources and rights that they deserved,” Ms. Lialios said.
Many history classes at Latin are teaching more about the Black Panther Party’s significance. Senior Carla McSweeney has enjoyed learning about the Black Panthers in her Chicago and American Politics classes. “It is fascinating to look back at their methods, how they were perceived by different groups, and the relationship between the party and law enforcement,” she said.
Not only is Carla interested in the Panther’s history, but she is also fascinated by Ms. Lialios’ work as a member. “I was surprised by Ms. Lialios working with the Black Panther Party, only because I don’t usually think of a woman, especially a white woman when I think of the Black Panther party,” she said.
Ninth and Tenth Grade Dean and Chicago Politics teacher Bridget Hennessy was equally shocked to learn about Ms. Lialios’ involvement in the Black Panther movement. “It surprised me because I haven’t seen much about the work of the White Panthers,” Ms. Hennessy said.
Ms. Lialios’ story revealed the untold stories of the Black Panther movement. Ms. Lialios said, “[My story] challenges the conventional narratives about activism,” highlighting the often-overlooked contributions of women and diverse allies.
While her work with the Panthers is over, Ms. Lialios continues to fight for social justice.
“I consider myself a revolutionary,” she said. Ms. Lialios continues to contribute to her vision of a more equitable world by using art to advance environmentalist initiatives.
Sustainability is one of Ms. Lialios’ primary concerns, and she channels her passion into projects such as designing models for bird gazebos in Millennium Park. She blends creativity with activism, in the belief that awareness turns into action. She posts her creations on her website to reach a broad audience and provide unique depictions that encourage viewers to protect and cherish nature.
Don’t let her soft smile or unwavering positivity fool you—Ms. Lialios is a fierce woman who fights injustice at every opportunity. “I feel like I’m at my physical and mental prime right now,” Ms. Lialios said. “There’s still so much to do, and I’m not slowing down anytime soon.”
