A long-standing politician and community activist will be honoured during the re-release of a speech banned during the Island's discrimination era.

Hilton Hill II, a former travel agent and Member of Parliament in 1953, will be honoured by local publishing company The Writers' Machine at the Leopard's Club on Sunday at 5 p.m. Mr. Hill is one of the few surviving members of the group of black politicians on the cover of Eva Hodgson's book "Second Class Citizens, First Class Men'' who met with the Secretary of State for the Colonies in 1958. The occasion will mark the launch of a new book by The Writers' Machine entitled "Choir No. 1 & Choir No. 2''. The book takes its title from the Anglican church choirs that were segregated until the 1960s.

The Leopard's Club gave copies of the book to two high schools and the Bermuda College during a special presentation yesterday.

Writers' Machine publisher Dale Butler said the book contains a speech by Mr.

Hill entitled "The Racial Divide in Bermuda from the Cradle to the Grave from 1609-1959'' -- a speech which was cut off during a live broadcast of the Leopard's Club annual supper during the 1950s.

The second essay in the book written by Evonne Blackette is a speech about E.F. Gordon given at St. George's Secondary School in 1985. Mr. Hill's speech highlights the challenges of black Bermudians during the segregation era and issues they faced such as low wages, inadequate educational facilities, limited voting rights and difficulty receiving health care. And the speech notes the prevalence of segregation at facilities and institutions including hospitals, theatres, and cemeteries.

Mr. Hill spoke with The Royal Gazette about the discrimination he faced as a young professional during his early career as a journalist in the late 1940s.

When asked about the changes that have taken place in local society since he first wrote his speech, Mr. Hill stated: "Bermudians have been allowed to recognise that they are human beings -- and not a lesser type of creature.'' "There have been many changes over the last 50 years and there's almost nothing that one can't do -- on the surface -- in Bermuda.

"But it's true that the wages paid to white people are relatively higher than those paid to blacks of the same capabilities doing the same job,'' he added.

Mr. Hill's wife Georgine agreed, adding: "The exempt companies sometimes have better opportunities for locals than the local companies.'' "And many local companies -- particularly the Banks -- are still reluctant to have Bermudians on the upper levels...the ceiling is not that easily reached,'' she added.

Mr. Hill has two young grandsons -- Jay Butler, 15, and Russell Butler, 12 -- who are poised to follow in the footsteps of educators and community activists on both sides of the family.

He referred to his grandsons' future successes, stating: "I'm happy that things keep opening up so that things previously restricted will be available to (Jay and Russell) as they become qualified.'' "Bermuda is becoming quite successful as a state, and there are opportunities now that were not there before.'' FIRST CLASS MEN -- The 1958 delegation who met with the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Pictured from left are Collingwood Burch, Russell Pearman, Wesley Tucker, Hilton Hill, E.T. Richards, Walter Robinson, Arnold Francis and Eustace Cann.