Dr. John E. Warren has lived many lives as a law clerk, ordained minister, elected official and publisher of The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint, the city’s largest African-American newspaper. 

A Black man with an afro sits at a desk, focused and engaged in his work environment.
A young Dr. John E. Warren on Capitol Hill. Image courtesy of Chida Warren.

When he was 78 years old, his daughter Chida Warren sat down with him to reflect on that journey, and what it was like to have to start over and prove himself after the family moved from Washington D.C. to San Diego in the late 1980s.

A campaign poster for Warren showcasing his name and an inspiring family image.
A 1980s campaign flyer of Dr. John E. Warren. He was running for City Council in Washington D.C. Image courtesy of Chida Warren.

Originally aired October 17, 2025, on NPR’s Morning Edition. 

This broadcast is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, and the National Endowment for the Arts. 

This conversation was recorded as part of a partnership between StoryCorps Studios and the City of San Diego.

Top Photo: Dr. John E. Warren and Chida Warren at their StoryCorps interview in San Diego, CA on May 17, 2024. By Alan Jinich for StoryCorps.