After reading the chapter where Tom was told he was black, I was left with an overwhelming feel of irony. As an individual, Tom is unique. He has his own personality and way of doing things that is unique to him. He is rude, he is a gambler, and he is free - he is Tom. As merely Tom his civil rights and liberties are protected under the US Constitution as an individual. However, when Tom finds out he is black, suddenly his individuality disappears. He is no longer just Tom, but now associates himself as a "n-word". For some strange reason his right to being an individual vanishes as he is is now classified amongst a group. Ironically, with just a mere title change, the Constitution is thrown out the window as Tom is no longer guaranteed his rights.
I found this series of events to be a particularly good lesson on the idea of individual liberty. The US Constitution does not grant and protect our rights based on what groups we are in - it does so because we are individuals. As individuals of God - or nature - we have certain unalienable natural rights that no man or government has the power to take away. However, when people become classified into groups, they lose their individuality. They are no longer citizen Tom, they are just a member of the group. This can have disastrous affects, because historically civil liberties have been abused by governments by classifying people in groups (ie Jews, Blacks, etc). This concept should be kept in mind as we view the world around us. Be cautious of the way we view groups. We are all individuals who have the same rights. Rather than viewing a fellow classmate as black, white, gay, or something else, view them as who they are - an individual human with unalienable rights.
If only Ryan was a political figure back in the 1800's. I completely agree that people should always be looked upon as individuals with unalienable rights. I believe that the purpose of Mark Twain's novel, whether it was his purpose or not, was to show how race does not make anyone inferior to another. The switch between Tom and Chambers proves that the intellect,speech, and attitude is not dependent on what race you are apart of. Mark Twain has shown that all races are equal, and that if given the same opportunities everyone has the ability to adapt to a higher society. This novel should have been proof to the audience during the 1800's that judging people by the color of their skin is completely ridiculous.
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