The son of an Island civil rights activist has revived his father's legacy by playing a pivotal role in the campaign to elect the first African American President of the United States.

Spencer Critchley, son of the late David Critchley, will tonight talk about the part he played in the Barack Obama campaign and its watershed in US history, via an Internet video link.

Mr. Critchley, a 50-year-old Bermudian marketing consultant, has spent the past year supporting Obama and volunteered as a media consultant in several battlegrounds including Pennsylvania, Colorado and Michigan.

His thoughts on the Obama phenomenon are just part of a public forum this evening organised by Imagine Bermuda.

'Perspectives on Obama' will be presented by a panel consisting of former Premiers Sir John Swan and Alex Scott, former Senator Michael Winfield and Glenn Fubler, Imagine Bermuda co-chairman. Wendy Davis-Johnson, Mr. Critchley's sister, is chairwoman.

The forum takes place at St. John's Sunday School, Pembroke, on what is also the eve of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday.

Mr. Fubler said: "The aim of the forum is to discuss the speakers' perspectives on Obama and the worldwide impact of his campaign. We will also talk on the theory that he is a transformative figure.

"From Imagine Bermuda's perspective he has been able to transform the conversation on race in America and this has implications for how that may happen elsewhere in the world.

"This will be a lively debate and we are inviting people to make contributions. Using the Internet and a video feed, Spencer will also give the audience his personal 'Perspective' from the heart of the campaign."

Mr. Spencer and Mrs. Davis-Johnson's father David Critchley was part of the movement for social change in 1950s Bermuda. He was part of a group which included Hilton and Georgine Hill, Eddie and Marion DeJean and Wilfred 'Mose' Allen.

Mr. Allen was instrumental in inspiring Dame Lois Browne-Evans to enter politics, while Mr. DeJean and Mr. Allen helped to found the Progressive Labour Party.

As a result of the group's secret meetings, Mr. Spencer Snr. drafted the document 'An Analysis of Bermuda's Social Ills'. While working in Canada in the late 1950s he managed to smuggle about 1,000 copies back to the Island.

The document went on to become a manifesto for change, and was read by the late 'Comrade' Richard Lynch at his soapbox talks during the 1959 Theatre Boycott.

Mr. Fubler compares the work of this group to that of the Montgomery Improvement Association, which under the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. guided the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

"This group of Bermudians did not have a name but David Critchley penned this document as a result of this series of discussions," said Mr. Fubler.

"This was the network happening in Bermuda, and so for Spencer to now be involved in the Obama campaign resonates with the work of his father."

'Perspectives on Obama' takes place tonight at 7.30 p.m. at St. John's Sunday School, Pembroke, (next to the tennis stadium).