Atlanta Exposition Speech

The Atlanta Exposition Speech, delivered by Booker T. Washington in 1895, emphasized the importance of economic self-reliance for African Americans. Speaking at a cotton exposition in Atlanta, Washington urged black citizens to focus on vocational training and entrepreneurship rather than pursuing immediate civil rights. He advocated for cooperation with white Americans, believing that goodwill and hard work would lead to social progress and eventual equality. His message sparked significant debate, with some supporting his pragmatic approach and others, like W.E.B. Du Bois, criticizing it for being too accommodating to the prevailing racial segregation of the time.