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‘What Kind of Bird Can’t Fly’ has been banned

August 29, 2025

Dorsey Nunn's memoir "What Kind of Bird Can't Fly" has been banned in all California State Prisons despite receiving critical acclaim and nominations for literary awards. Nunn, who served prison time from 1972-1981 and later became the executive director of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, wrote the book to inspire incarcerated individuals as he was once inspired by books shared among prisoners. After donating hundreds of copies to incarcerated people, Nunn received notice from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation that his book has been placed on the Centralized List of Disapproved Publications.

Who is affected

  • Incarcerated people in California State Prisons
  • Dorsey Nunn, the author
  • Heyday Books (the publisher)
  • Readers inside prisons who would benefit from seeing themselves in literature
  • Future generations of incarcerated individuals seeking inspiration

What action is being taken

  • The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has banned Nunn's book by placing it on the Centralized List of Disapproved Publications
  • Nunn is raising awareness about the ban by sharing his story publicly
  • Nunn is asking people to help "push out this message" to those who may care
  • Nunn is encouraging people to stand up for incarcerated individuals who want to improve themselves

Why it matters

  • The ban prevents incarcerated individuals from accessing potentially transformative literature that could help them see themselves differently
  • Nunn credits similar books with helping him learn to read and reason while incarcerated
  • The book represents the journey of someone who transformed from being incarcerated to becoming a respected advocate and award recipient
  • Book banning by government institutions raises concerns about censorship and limitations on educational materials for prisoners
  • The ban occurs in a broader context of challenges to narratives about formerly enslaved people

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

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

‘What Kind of Bird Can’t Fly’ has been banned