The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 34

" I can remember going to my
front door, and I just had a
strange feeling... " -ONZLEE WARE
Onzlee Ware was born as the next-toyoungest
of four siblings in Greensboro,
North Carolina, in 1954 - the year of the
Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education
landmark decision to desegregate schools. He
was six when the Greensboro Four began
lunch counter sit-ins at the F. W. Woolworth
Company store. The protestors were gradually
joined by dozens and then hundreds, including
Ware's mother. In fourth grade, Ware was sent
to a previously all-white school that was being
integrated.
Those experiences exposed Ware to a
diverse group of people and gave him a close
education on race relations in America as they
evolved through the tumultuous 1960s. In high
school, a teacher suggested Ware become a
lawyer, which pushed him in that direction.
He attended North Carolina Agricultural
and Technical University, where he joined a
fraternity. And then: " I got with a crowd. I was
green. And I got my head in a lot deeper than
I thought it would ever go, " Ware said.
As a result, he started using drugs. In
1975, Ware was arrested and charged with
possession of heroin and marijuana. He traded
information to get the charges dismissed. A
year later, Ware's identity as an informant was
revealed in a federal court proceeding. What
happened next changed his life forever.
" I can remember going to my front door,
and I just had a strange feeling, " Ware said. " I
went to the door and somebody said, 'Onzlee.'
I didn't say anything, but soon as he said that,
I heard a little voice in the back of my head
say 'Close the door.' I simultaneously closed
the door and heard a shot rang out. Had I not
closed that door, I think I would've died. "
His girlfriend and future wife was upstairs
in the house and ran down, saving his life.
Ware later lost his left leg from the wound.
He remembers lying in bed and knowing he'd
have to face his mother.
" I was raised by my mother, and I knew that
what I was doing was wrong, " Ware said. After
the shooting, " I was embarrassed and ashamed
because I thought I had embarrassed my mom
and the family. The first time she saw me in the
hospital, I just broke down and cried and said,
'Mom, I'm sorry.' "
Top:
From left, Negro League baseball player Larry
LaGrande, Del. William Fralin and Del. Onzlee Ware
at the General Assembly.
Middle:
Ware in the House of Delegates.
Bottom:
Ware worked with families as a delegate, then
worked with juveniles and parents as a judge in
Roanoke Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
34 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021
TheRoanoker.com
COURTESY OF ONZLEE WARE
http://www.TheRoanoker.com

The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021

The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 1
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - Cover2
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 3
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 4
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 5
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 6
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 7
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 8
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 9
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 10
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 11
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 12
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 13
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 14
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 15
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 16
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 17
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 18
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 19
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 20
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 21
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 22
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 23
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 24
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 25
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 26
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 27
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 28
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 29
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 30
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 31
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 32
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 33
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 34
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 35
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 36
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 37
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 38
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 39
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 40
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 41
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 42
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 43
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 44
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 45
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 46
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 47
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 48
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 49
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 50
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 51
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 52
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 53
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 54
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 55
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 56
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 57
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 58
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 59
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 60
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 61
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 62
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 63
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 64
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 65
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 66
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 67
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 68
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 69
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 70
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 71
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 72
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 73
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 74
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 75
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 76
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 77
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 78
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 79
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 80
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 81
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 82
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 83
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 84
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 85
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 86
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 87
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 88
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 89
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 90
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 91
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 92
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 93
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 94
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 95
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 96
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 97
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 98
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 99
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 100
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 101
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 102
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 103
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 104
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 105
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 106
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 107
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 108
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 109
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 110
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 111
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 112
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 113
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 114
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 115
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 116
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 117
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 118
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 119
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 120
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 121
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 122
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 123
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 124
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 125
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 126
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 127
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 128
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 129
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - 130
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - Cover3
The Roanoker - Sept/October 2021 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/the-roanoker-march-april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/the-roanoker-january-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/RKRND21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/RKRSO21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/TheRoanokerJA2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20210506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20210304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_2020_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20200708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20200506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20200304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/TheRoanoker_JulyAugust2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/TheRoanoker_MayJune2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/roanoker_201402
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com