The Atlanta Exposition Speech, also known as the Atlanta Compromise, was delivered by Booker T. Washington on September 18, 1895, at the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia. Washington was a prominent African American leader and educator who advocated for the advancement of the Black community through vocational education and economic self-reliance.

In his speech, Washington emphasized the importance of industrial education and economic progress for African Americans, rather than focusing solely on political and social equality. He called for cooperation between the races, arguing that Black people should prove their worth through hard work, skills, and economic success, rather than demanding immediate social and political rights.

The Atlanta Exposition Speech was significant in Black history because it marked a shift in African American leadership and strategy. Washington's approach of gradual progress and self-help, known as the "Atlanta Compromise," contrasted with the more radical demands for civil rights and equality advocated by other Black leaders of the time.

While the Atlanta Exposition Speech was criticized by some African Americans for being too accommodating to white supremacy, it also brought attention to the importance of economic empowerment and self-reliance as pathways to racial advancement. The speech remains a controversial and debated moment in Black history, reflecting the complex and diverse strategies employed by African American leaders in the fight for equality and justice.