The Atlanta Exposition Speech, also known as the "Atlanta Compromise," was delivered by African American leader and educator Booker T. Washington on September 18, 1895, at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia. Washington's speech is considered a pivotal moment in Black history as it outlined his philosophy of racial accommodation and economic self-help for African Americans in the post-Reconstruction South.

In the speech, Washington emphasized the importance of Blacks and Whites working together for the economic progress of the South, rather than focusing on social and political equality. He famously stated, "In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress."

The Atlanta Exposition Speech was controversial within the Black community at the time, with some critics viewing it as too conciliatory towards White supremacy. However, Washington's message resonated with many White Southern leaders and helped him gain financial support for the Tuskegee Institute, a school he founded to provide vocational education for African Americans.

Overall, the Atlanta Exposition Speech is significant in Black history for its impact on race relations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as for sparking debates about the best path to racial equality and progress for African Americans.