Booker T. Washington's advice in his 1895 speech at the Cotton States and International Exposition can be best summarized as emphasizing the importance of African Americans focusing on industrial education and economic self-reliance. He believed that through hard work, vocational training, and economic progress, African Americans could gain respect and overcome racial discrimination. He also stressed the need for African Americans to adopt a conciliatory approach towards white Americans and to prove their worth through their skills and contributions to society.
