My dad is a firefighter paramedic in one of the most troubled, crime-ridden cities in the U.S.: Compton, California.

He has seen everything from gunshot wounds and drive-by victims to industrial fires and severe car crashes. I admire public servants for what they do to serve and protect us, but I still cannot fathom the fact that no matter how bad a neighborhood is and how high the crime rate is, the people living there cannot move to a better place and live a better life.

Growing up and visiting my dad at his workplace, my mom would always park inside the gates of the firehouse because she felt safer there—completely understandable. Until I was told firsthand, I never really gave any thought to the what the people living in these neighborhoods had to endure every single day. There are families stuck in this terrible, cyclical pattern of seeing their children become involved with gangs for the sake of protecting "their own." These mothers raise their kids always wanting what is best for them, yet they cannot afford it, even working multiple jobs.

The demographic of these neighborhoods is predominantly Black and Mexican, and these everyday American citizens are stopped and frisked on the warrant of suspicion because they are people of color. I have witnessed many times people not of color being let off with a warning when they are stopped by policemen and policewomen, yet these same public servants charge people of color. It makes no sense.

I grew up with neighbors in the police force, and they have been nothing but nice to my family and me. I have gone to their children's birthdays, had sleepovers at their house and gone on camping trips with them. These are amazing public servants who serve their community and go to work every day not knowing the terror they might have to face or the people they will have to deal with.

But, if you look at it from a different perspective, say, from the view of kid in a hoodie walking from a 7-11 to their house back in Compton, you will see that these kids are fearful for their lives, too. They grew up in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the U.S., and they are told from the time they can understand words that people will not always think they are innocent bystanders. They are taught to speak politely with firefighters and police officers if they are ever stopped by them. They are taught not to get involved with gangs by their parents for the sake of their safety.

The problem in such a crime-ridden neighborhood where the majority of the crimes committed are by people of color is that once public servants see a pattern, they become more wary of the people they have to deal with. Subconsciously, they begin to label these innocent bystanders as suspects before they even know them. This is how racial profiling, prejudice and racism are perpetuated. This is why, as a nation, we must change our state of mind and not label the type of people who live in dangerous neighborhoods. Because as much as they want to, it's not as if they can easily leave.