Da Urban Conservative: Who's Really Working and Who's Really Safe?

Welcome back to Da Urban Conservative where we give you the facts, raw and unfiltered. Today, we’re diving into three headlines that speak volumes about the state of America. Whether it’s our labor force, justice system, or public safety, there’s a common thread that ties all of these together—exploitation, neglect, and the illusion of control.

First up, let’s talk about the share of hired crop farmworkers who are not legally authorized to work in the United States. A lot of people will tell you that undocumented workers are stealing jobs or are a drain on the economy. But the truth is more complex than that. So complex that, over the last few decades, we’ve seen a shift that no one seems to want to really address.

In 1989 to 1991, roughly 14% of the crop farmworkers in this country were undocumented. Now, fast forward to 1999-2001, that number shot up to nearly 55%. That means more than half of the people doing back-breaking work in our fields—picking the produce we rely on—didn’t have legal status. What does that say about America? It says that we’ve built a system where those who benefit the most from cheap labor are willing to look the other way. They’re willing to let people come in and work under conditions most of us wouldn’t tolerate, for wages none of us could survive on.

But here’s where it gets interesting—over the past few years, that number has dropped back down to around 40%. Why? Is it because there’s a crackdown on undocumented workers? Or maybe it’s because fewer people want to risk coming to a country where they’ll be exploited? The point is, the labor force, especially in agriculture, relies on these workers. And while some people want to demonize them, let’s not forget who’s really profiting here. Corporations, big agriculture, and yes, even the consumers who enjoy lower food prices because someone else is paying the hidden cost.

Now, while we’re on the subject of exploitation, let’s shift gears to something even more disturbing. A case that should send chills down your spine, but for some reason, it hasn’t hit the headlines the way it should. It’s the case of Abdul Jameel Wright. Court documents show that Wright, a man who was trusted to educate and guide young minds, allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in his classroom.

Let that sink in for a second. A classroom—a place that should be safe, that should be sacred. Yet, here we are. The systems meant to protect our children are failing them. And what’s worse, it’s happening behind closed doors, in places where we think our kids are safe. The abuse of power is real, and it happens every day. And let’s be clear, this is not an isolated incident. Whether it’s a teacher, a priest, or a coach, the abuse of power often goes unchecked until it's too late. The question we have to ask ourselves is, why? Why do we trust these systems to protect us when time and time again, they fail?

Where’s the justice for that young girl? How does she rebuild her life after such a betrayal? And how many other kids are out there, right now, suffering in silence because the people we’ve put in charge are turning a blind eye?

Finally, let’s talk about public safety—specifically, how we’re supposed to feel safe in public spaces. The Mall of America just announced a security upgrade that’s raising some eyebrows. More than two years have passed since gunfire erupted the night before Christmas Eve. That’s right, the most commercial, family-friendly place in America—literally a temple to consumerism—became a war zone.

So, what are we doing now? Installing more security, because that’s supposed to make us feel better, right? But let’s be real here—does increased security actually make us safer, or does it just make us *feel* safer? The fact is, gun violence is so deeply embedded in American culture that no amount of metal detectors or armed guards will stop someone determined to wreak havoc.

We’re living in a time where public spaces have become battlegrounds, where shopping malls, schools, even churches are no longer safe. The illusion of safety is what’s being sold to us. And every time there’s another shooting, the narrative remains the same—thoughts and prayers, more security, and then back to business as usual.

But the reality is that the root causes of this violence—poverty, mental health issues, easy access to firearms—are never truly addressed. We treat the symptoms, but never the disease. And until we do, we’ll keep seeing more shootings, more security upgrades, and more of that uneasy feeling every time we step outside.

So, what’s the takeaway here? Whether it’s the exploitation of undocumented workers, the betrayal of trust in our schools, or the false sense of security we’re being sold, the truth is that America is a country built on shaky foundations. We talk about freedom, justice, and safety, but for too many people, those things are just illusions.

It’s time to start having real conversations about who’s profiting from the exploitation, who’s benefiting from the chaos, and who’s being left to pick up the pieces. And more importantly, it’s time for action. Because the more we let things slide, the more we allow injustice and exploitation to go unchecked, the harder it will be to reclaim the America we all want to believe in.