The Paragon Story (1939-1969)

Item Details

[New York, NY], [Author], [1970], Cloth

VG+ to Near Fine

[AFRICAN AMERICANS]  [PARAGON]  [BLACK CREDIT UNION]  [HARD TIMES]  [ECONOMICS]  [NEW YORK]  [BLACK STUDIES] Clyde G. Atwell.  Presentation copy, signed, of the book titled The Paragon Story (1939-1969) covering The Paragon Progressive Community Association, Inc. and The Paragon Progressive Federal Credit Union ([N.Y. City, NY]: Clyde G. Atwell, [1970]).  The lengthy cover title reads “The Paragon Story / A 30-year record on the economic struggle of the Blacks in Bedford-Stuyvesant (Brooklyn, N.Y.) during the depression.  This book reveals how in the midst of severe hardships they pooled their pennies, formed a credit union and emerged from a state of poverty to one of progress and survival.”  Presentation copy, signed by the author, “To Pauline / With best Wishes / Clyde G. Atwell / ‘74”.

Tan-colored, cloth over board covers; spine title; 125pp; photo illustrations of key figures in the Paragon story.  Book measures 7.5 x 5.25 inches.  VG+ to Near Fine condition.  [24-11]

In the Foreword, F. Levi Lord (one of the founders of Paragon) writes, “Mr. Atwell has done a wonderful thing in researching the historical development of Paragon and making a record that is available to each member of the organization at nominal cost.  The depths from which we came shall now be common knowledge to all… The Paragon family like all credit union members is a united, humble and dedicated group of working people.  They are people of vision and tenacity who have always suffered from lack of opportunity unlike most other Americans.  They had faith, they dreamed dreams, they were able to foresee the brightness in the future if they had access to money to do things like all other Americans.  They loved their children and had dreams of their accomplishments and contributions to America.  Many of their dreams have become realities, by virtue of their credit union affiliation.  What my generation has accomplished and enabled others to achieve through the services of Paragon should be viewed as but a beginning of demonstration of the value of a people working together.”

The book puts forth the premise that the birth of the Black sponsored Paragon association and credit union in 1939 was the beginning of the economic emancipation of Blacks in Brooklyn, New York after suffering through the Great Depression.  Atwell relates the history of Paragon and its members’ achievements as a great social and economic success for the Black community in NY’s Bedford-Stuyvesant.  His history of Paragon was meant to be an inspirational story that would prompt African American communities everywhere to work together to achieve economic growth and prosperity.

OCLC lists only eleven, primarily East Coast, institutions as holding a copy of this book.