Black Power What did the phrase "black power" mean to African Americans who participated in the civil rights struggle? Booker T. Washington felt that black power meant financial power. During the movement that would soon be a landmark in our country's history, the black community lacked black owned businesses, black teachers, and black government representatives. Because blacks were without these things it was impossible for them as a group to attain financial power. The "Black Power" movement grew out of frustration with the slow progress and non-violence of the early civil rights demonstrations. During the early sixties peaceful protests took place consistently through out America. Usually li