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Dorsey Nunn takes flight with new book

August 26, 2025

Dorsey Nunn's new memoir, "What Kind of Bird Can't Fly," chronicles his journey from being incarcerated at age 19 through his transformation into an advocate for justice reform. The book details his experiences in prison, including the realization that his entire Little League team except one white player had been incarcerated, and explores themes of systemic racism in the criminal justice system. Nunn describes his radicalization during his decade in prison, his struggles with anger and sobriety after release, and his ongoing fight against what he views as modern slavery in the prison system.

Who is affected

  • Formerly incarcerated individuals like Dorsey Nunn
  • Communities disproportionately impacted by mass incarceration
  • Nunn's family members, including his son Anthony and daughter Denise
  • Current prisoners working for minimal wages in what Nunn describes as slavery-like conditions
  • Readers seeking to understand the personal impact of the prison system

What action is being taken

  • Nunn is sharing his personal testimony through his newly published memoir
  • Nunn continues advocating against the prison system's labor practices and conditions
  • The book is being made available through heydaybooks.com and amazon.com
  • Nunn is using his experiences to "change hearts and minds through oratory"

Why it matters

  • The memoir connects one man's experience to larger systemic issues in criminal justice
  • It highlights how prison disproportionately affected Nunn's community, illustrated by seeing his entire Little League team incarcerated
  • The book provides firsthand testimony about prison conditions, forced labor, and the challenges of reentry
  • Nunn's story demonstrates possibilities for rehabilitation, sobriety, and becoming an advocate after incarceration
  • The narrative challenges the notion that people should be defined by their worst mistakes

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: San Francisco Bay View National Black Newspaper