The Atlanta Exposition Speech, also known as the "Atlanta Compromise Speech," was delivered by Booker T. Washington on September 18, 1895, at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia. In his speech, Washington called for Black Americans to focus on economic advancement and education, rather than on seeking social and political equality. He believed that economic progress and vocational education would lead to the eventual acceptance and equality of Black Americans in society.

The speech was significant because it represented a shift in Black leadership and advocacy during that time. Washington's philosophy of gradual progress and self-reliance contrasted with the more confrontational approach of activists like W.E.B. Du Bois. While some criticized Washington for his accommodationist stance, the Atlanta Exposition Speech was seen as a pragmatic strategy to address the economic and social challenges facing Black Americans in the post-Reconstruction era.

The Atlanta Exposition Speech marked a pivotal moment in American history and continues to be studied and debated within the context of the struggle for civil rights and equality for Black Americans.