The first six chapters we read focused on what rootshock was and all of its negatives. We mentioned in class how rootshock can severely traumatize people, as they are being asked to move away from something they were raised with. However, chapter 7 attempts to shed a ray of hope into the idea of urban renewal. While it is extremely unjust that urban renewal happens mainly in Black communities, it is important to always cling onto hope. Some of these people needed a new beginning. Urban renewal presented them with the opportunity to start fresh and build an entirely different life.

However, the effects of being forcefully moved from the place where one grew up, will never truly fade. This, in conjunction with the escalating racism and outright discriminatory behavior by the whites toward the blacks, fueled the inevitable rise of people like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. These people served as beacons of hope to all the blacks who were forced out of their communities. These two prominent figures, particularly MLK, fought for what he knew was right. As soon as one person steps up and takes the mantle, then everybody else will quickly follow. This is exactly what happened, as blacks from everywhere, realizing the unjust situation they are in and clinging onto the hope that things will get better some day, rallied behind these leaders and fought for themselves.

Rootshock can also be caused by factors other than urban renewal. For example, the tragic event of 9/11 completely traumatized all New Yorkers. The Twin Towers were part of our heritage; it was a part of the city. When this building was gone in the blink of an eye, all of New York, regardless of whether you lived in Manhattan or not, was brought to a traumatic standstill. However, once again, hope presided and now we are nearly finished with the project of building a new skyscraper, which honors the memory of the fallen towers.