He did what American Anthropologists have been doing for years; he described culture in its purest terms. Americans are sometimes not receptive to these terms.

I have taught in an urban high school for 33 years. I have also taught a seminar on educational reform at Yale University since 1976. Professor Ogbu's work has been most helpful to me in understanding my high school students' attitudes toward education. I consider John Ogbu the most important educational theorist of the past quarter century and am saddened to learn of his death. Burt Saxon

I just found out about Ogbu. Today! March 15th, 2004!! I can't believe it. I'm so shocked. I had gone online to check on his latest work and I come across this sad news. His work has been critical in helping me understand student behavior from cross-cultural perspectives. I'm Igbo, like he was, so I'll say "Nnukwu onye nkuzi, chineke nara mkpulu obi ghi na enuigwe, amen."

news of Ogbu's death stunned me.I was watching a CNN program on falling educational standards among black american students when I heard the narrator refer to Ogbu's work in that area. Then he dropped the bombshell, ogbu died last year. I never learned of this. I have very fond recollections of this great scholar. I still cherish his humanity and the wise counsel he volunteered to African students at the University of Toronto, when he visited in 1997....May the soul of this great scholar rest in peace....
ogbu baba nawo ne mawu lo ko mia ga kpe, ameen