The Atlanta Compromise was a speech delivered by educator Booker T. Washington in 1895 during the Cotton States and International Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia. In this speech, Washington advocated for the economic advancement of African Americans through vocational education and hard work, rather than seeking immediate social and political equality. He believed that by proving their economic value, African Americans would gradually gain the respect and rights they deserved. Washington's approach emphasized cooperation between whites and blacks in the South, suggesting that African Americans should accept segregation for the time being while focusing on self-improvement. This compromise was controversial, as some, including W.E.B. Du Bois, argued for a more direct challenge to racial discrimination and the pursuit of civil rights.