‘ ‘ ‘ The history of black students at Pitt begins with a man whose name is unknown, but his… ‘ ‘ ‘ The history of black students at Pitt begins with a man whose name is unknown, but his impact surely isn’t ‘mdash; in 1829 he helped open the doors for a demographic of people who would go on to do great things in the University and the world. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Blue Gold ‘amp; Black: From Doorway to Distinction’ chronicles the experience of black students at Pitt. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘At its core, it is about people who share in common their blackness in all its hues,’ said Robert Hill, executive film producer and Pitt’s vice chancellor for public affairs, to an enthusiastic audience at the film’s Twentieth Century Club screening on Feb. 4. ‘ ‘ ‘ Throughout the film, students and events at Pitt are situated in the larger context of what was going on in the nation, which helps the viewer understand Pitt’s role in history. It breaks up the 180-year-old story of black presences at Pitt into eras. ‘ ‘ ‘ No one knows the name of the first black student to be accepted at Pitt. He came to Pitt in 1829, before many universities were admitting to black students. Though the University had accepted him, the students had not, and so he was often forced to sit outside the classroom to listen to lectures. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘In some ways, Pitt was ahead of the nation,’ said Laurence Glasco, a history professor at Pitt, who helped provide information for the project and appeared in the film. ‘ ‘ ‘ From beauty queens to sports, ‘Blue Gold ‘amp; Black’ addresses the journey and importance of black Pitt students and the impact they would make on the world around them, highlighting only some of Pitt’s many distinguished black alumni. ‘ ‘ ‘ Homer S. Brown received his law degree from Pitt in 1923 and became Pittsburgh’s first black judge. ‘ ‘ ‘ Jimmy Joe Robinson was Pitt’s first black football player, who throughout his years playing would lead in rushing, receiving, and scoring. ‘ ‘ ‘ Cecelia Trower was honored as the first black Miss Pitt in 1957, an honor that meant that she was everything the University thought a student should be. ‘ ‘ ‘ Rachel Poole was one of the first three black students accepted into the nursing program during the World War II era. The first time she applied for the program, she was denied because of her race, but that didn’t deter Poole. She applied as a pre-nursing major and things turned in her favor. The nursing school was forced to accept blacks students, and so the first three began. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘They were rough times. They didn’t want us, we weren’t welcomed by most, but we had a good time,’ said Poole. ‘ ‘ ‘ She explained in the film that after people made remarks, she and her friend would often go back to their rooms and laugh. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I never allow the opinions of others to create any kind of negative thoughts about myself. I knew who I was, I knew I was smart,’ said Poole. ‘ ‘ ‘ Poole went on to graduate and during her career became the first black director of nursing at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It never occurred to me that we were making history. I wanted to be a professional nurse and that’s what I did,’ said Poole. ‘ ‘ ‘ Not everything in the film occurred that long ago . The film documents recent developments, including some notable events from 2009, demonstrating how black students like Tonya Groover are still working for progress. ‘ ‘ ‘ Groover, who graduated in 2007, began the Technology Leadership Initiative program in the computer science department. It’s a program set on helping underrepresented students eager to go into the computer science field. She’ll be a part of Pitt’s black history, but like others, it wasn’t an honor she was pursuing. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I think you’re so involved in the cause that you don’t look for fame and fortune, it’s more about the impact you’re going to have,’ said Groover. ‘ ‘ ‘ The film was well received by the audience and creators, who reacted with laughter and applause throughout. At the end, there was a buzz of approval as people left the theater. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I thought it was phenomenal and I really appreciate and applaud Robert’s dedication to chronicling the black student experience, but also the Pitt black student experience in the University and Pittsburgh,’ said Groover. ‘ ‘ ‘ Robert Hill, the executive producer, nurtured the film from idea to reality, and the premiere marked the success of his efforts. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It was probably what women must feel when they give birth. You have an idea, you bring people into it, and one day, it just appears. I feel honored to be at the University of Pittsburgh and tell this important story,’ said Hill. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘Blue Gold ‘amp; Black’ shows that the history of black students at Pitt is rich with people who will be remembered for what they pioneered. However, for many, it wasn’t a matter of making history, but a matter of doing what they loved. ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘I have a feeling that those who are making history, at the time, don’t know it,’ said Poole.