black power: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Historical, Political, Academic
Quick answer
What does “black power” mean?
A political slogan and movement (originating in the US in the 1960s) emphasizing racial pride, self-sufficiency, and political/economic power for Black people, often advocating for separation from white-dominated institutions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A political slogan and movement (originating in the US in the 1960s) emphasizing racial pride, self-sufficiency, and political/economic power for Black people, often advocating for separation from white-dominated institutions.
1) A sociopolitical concept advocating for the empowerment, autonomy, and collective strength of Black communities, often linked to Pan-Africanism. 2) (Less common) Can be used, sometimes critically, to denote Black influence or authority in a specific domain (e.g., 'black power in the music industry').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originates in the US and its primary historical reference is to the US movement. In UK contexts, it is understood historically but is more likely to be used in academic or activist discussions relating to Black British politics and anti-racism movements inspired by the US example.
Connotations
In both varieties, it retains its strong historical/political connotations. In the US, it is directly tied to domestic history. In the UK, it may be used more abstractly or in reference to transnational solidarity.
Frequency
More frequent in American English due to its historical origins. In UK English, it appears primarily in historical, political, or sociological discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “black power” in a Sentence
The Black Power movement [verb: advocated, emerged, declined]Black Power as a [noun: concept, slogan, force]to salute/show/symbolise Black PowerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “black power” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The activists sought to black-power the community's economic structures through co-operatives. (rare, non-standard)
American English
- (Verb use is highly atypical and not standard; the term functions almost exclusively as a compound noun.)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb.)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- He gave a Black Power salute during the protest.
American English
- The Black Power era fundamentally changed the conversation about race in America.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Only in specific contexts like diversity consultancy or historical analysis of business ownership ('promoting Black power in entrepreneurship').
Academic
Common in history, political science, sociology, and African American studies courses discussing post-1965 Civil Rights era.
Everyday
Low frequency. Used when discussing history, politics, or current events related to race. Can be sensitive.
Technical
Not applicable in STEM fields. A technical term within the humanities and social sciences.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “black power”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “black power”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “black power”
- Using it as a casual synonym for 'Black influence' (e.g., 'There's a lot of black power in that company').
- Uncapitalised writing ('black power') diminishes its status as a proper name of a movement.
- Confusing it with the broader 'Civil Rights Movement', which included both integrationist and separatist strands.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but carefully. It is used historically to refer to the 1960s-70s movement. In contemporary discourse, it is used by activists and scholars, often in reference to its legacy or in phrases like 'Black Power salute'. Using it to describe current events requires nuance to avoid seeming anachronistic.
Not inherently. While some factions within the broader movement advocated armed self-defence, the core philosophy emphasised psychological empowerment, economic self-sufficiency, cultural pride, and political autonomy. The media often sensationalised its more militant aspects.
Broadly, the classic Civil Rights Movement (mid-1950s to mid-1960s) focused on legal equality, integration, and non-violent protest. Black Power (mid-1960s onward) shifted focus to racial dignity, self-sufficiency, and potential separation, and was more critical of integration into a fundamentally racist system.
Yes. As the name of a specific historical movement and ideology, it is a proper noun and should be capitalised as 'Black Power', similar to 'Civil Rights Movement'.
A political slogan and movement (originating in the US in the 1960s) emphasizing racial pride, self-sufficiency, and political/economic power for Black people, often advocating for separation from white-dominated institutions.
Black power is usually formal, historical, political, academic in register.
Black power: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈpaʊə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈpaʊər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Raise a (Black Power) fist”
- “Power to the people (associated slogan)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the iconic image of athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising their gloved fists at the 1968 Olympics – that's the 'Black Power' salute.
Conceptual Metaphor
POWER IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (e.g., movement, fist, salute); GROUP IDENTITY IS A BODY (collective body of Black people).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'Black Power' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?