Booker T. Washington's "Atlanta Compromise"

Booker T. Washington's "Atlanta Compromise" was a speech in 1895 in which he proposed that African Americans accept segregation and disenfranchisement temporarily, focusing instead on vocational education and economic self-sufficiency. He believed that by demonstrating their value through work and skills, African Americans could earn respect and eventually gain civil rights gradually. While controversial—some argued it accepted segregation—Washington aimed to promote cooperation between Black and white communities to improve economic opportunities and social stability for African Americans.