The Atlanta Exposition speech, also known as the "Atlanta Compromise," was delivered by renowned Black educator and leader Booker T. Washington on September 18, 1895, at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia. In his speech, Washington outlined his philosophy of race relations and economic progress for African Americans in the post-Reconstruction South.

Washington emphasized the importance of industrial education and vocational training as a means for Black advancement, urging both Blacks and whites to work together for the economic development of the South. He proposed that African Americans should focus on acquiring practical skills and learning trades that would allow them to contribute to society and uplift themselves.

While Washington's Atlanta Exposition speech was praised by many white audiences and some Black leaders for its conciliatory tone and emphasis on economic progress, it also drew criticism from more militant Black activists, such as W.E.B. Du Bois. Critics argued that Washington's accommodationist approach overlooked the broader issues of civil rights and political equality for African Americans.

Despite the controversy surrounding the Atlanta Exposition speech, Booker T. Washington's ideas and influence as a prominent Black leader and educator left a lasting impact on the trajectory of Black progress and empowerment in the United States.