Bo Thao-Urabe was born on 1973 in Laos. She was born during America's war in Vietnam. Bo's family fled to Thailand. They spent three years in a refugee camp. In December 1797, she came to Chicago, IL, America, as an immigrant. She learned English quickly. She helped her mother use the public bus system. She moved to St. Paul, MN. In St. Paul Thao-Urabe found people who had similar life experiences. They talked about their experiences in a similar way. As she got older, she felt angry about the racism she saw. She believed that racism made it harder for her family to live in the United States. For example, it meant she needed to be the English interpreter for her parents. Also, it meant her family did not have help taking care of her sister, so she had to do it.