Although Iola and Roxy's son, Chambers, were ultimately found to have a drop of blood in them, it was not their physical appearance which betrayed their true identity.  Iola was found out only after the death of her father.  His cousin, Alfred Lorraine, knew that Iola's mother was of African descent and had the marriage of Eugene and Marie declared unlawful.  As a result, Marie and her children were sold into slavery.  Would it not have been for Lorraine, Marie and her children would have continued living the happy life of a white family in the south.  Chambers, on the other hand, was found out only by a thumb print which he had given before Roxy switched the babies.  Both Iola and Chambers were very fair and would never have been thought to be black had it not been for the circumstances which they found themselves in.
    Before Iola learned her true heritage, she was a supporter of slavery.  She said to one of her friends, "'Slavery can't be wrong...for my father is a slave-holder, and my mother is as good to our servants as she can be.'" (Harper, p. 306).  Iola even went as far as to say "'Our slaves do not want their freedom.  They would not take it if we gave it to them'" (Harper, p. 306).  However, Iola's opinion of slavery was greatly changed when she became a slave herself.  "Poor Iola! When she said slavery was not a bad thing, little did she think that she was destined to drink to its bitter dregs the cup she was so ready to press to the lips of others" (Harper, p. 309).  Immediately after Iola found out the truth of her background, she regretted all that she had ever said about slavery.  "Almost wild with agony, Iola paced the floor, as the fearful truth broke in crushing anguish upon her mind.  Then bursting into a paroxysm of tears succeeded by peals of hysterical laughter, said:-'I used to say that slavery is right.  I didn't know what I was talking about'" (Harper, p. 313).  In all actuality, Iola had defended slavery simply because she was under the impression that she would never be a slave herself.
    Although Iola had some terrible experiences after she was sold into slavery, she ultimately became a better person because of such experiences.  After slavery was abolished, she became a fervent supporter of the advancement of the black race.  She was lucky enough to receive an excellent education which she used to become a teacher so that she could spread the wealth of her knowledge with the less fortunate black people.  Although she became ill and was not able to continue her teaching, she remained true to her race and did all that she could to help them.  Although slavery had been abolished, racism had not and even though she felt discouraged at times, Iola never yielded to the forces with tried to keep her down.
    Chambers, on the other hand, had quite a different reaction than that of Iola.  He was raised as a typical white child of the time and as a result, even as a baby, "He would call for anything and everything he saw, simply saying 'Awnt it!' (want it), which was a command" (Twain, p. 76).  As Chambers grew, Roxy realized that he was not becoming the type of man she had hoped for.  "She saw her darling gradually cease from being her son, she saw that detail perish utterly; all that was left was master - master, pure and simple, and it was not a gentle mastership either...She was merely his chattle, now, his convenience, his dog, his cringing and helps slave, the humble and unresisting victim of his capricious temper and vicious nature" (Twain, p. 81).  When Chambers found out that he was born a slave, his whole world came crashing down.  He wanted so badly to keep people from discovering his true identity that he paid Roxy to keep quiet.  In order to pay her as well as the many debts he had accumulated while gambling, he began to rob the people who lived in his town in order to sell their possessions resulting in a profit for himself.
    Where Iola instantly felt the urge to help her race, Chambers wanted absolutely nothing to do with it.  He worked hard to keep his true identity a secret.  Iola was lucky enough to be granted her freedom and was able to work hard to fight for the black people.  Chambers, on the other hand, was finally found out and sent down the river.