The Atlanta Exposition speech, also known as the "Atlanta Compromise," was delivered by African American civil rights leader Booker T. Washington on September 18, 1895, at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia. Washington's speech emphasized the importance of racial cooperation and economic development for African Americans in the post-Reconstruction South.

In his address, Washington encouraged Black and white Americans to work together for the economic progress of the South, stressing that African Americans should focus on vocational and agricultural education to uplift themselves and contribute to the region's prosperity. He argued that through hard work, perseverance, and self-reliance, African Americans could gradually gain social and political equality.

While the Atlanta Exposition speech was praised by many white southerners and some African American leaders for its conciliatory tone and focus on practical education, it also faced criticism from those who believed it compromised the fight for civil rights and perpetuated racial inequality. Despite the controversy, Washington's speech marked a significant moment in Black history as it highlighted the complexities of navigating racial tensions and pursuing progress in the Jim Crow South.