Despite the increase of diversity on talk shows and the inclusion of minorities in comedy specials, there still lies a barrier in media that prevents many Black female comedians from gaining popularity and recognition. So, we have decided and released this article detailing the 15 funniest black female standup comedians in history.
There are many black female comedians, from rich melanated women to some called ‘light skinned’ like the late Joan Rivers. The comedians chosen for this list are very talented and have been known as (funny-black-women). Laughing is great for your health. That’s why we’ve collectively brought a list of the 15 Funniest Black Female Comedians to share with you! If you like a good laugh, these women will make your day.
1. Desiree Burch
| Age: | 42 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Twitter: | destheray |
| Instagram: | destheray |
| Occupation: | Comedian television host |
Desiree Burch, known to her fans as D.B., is our leading black female standup comedian and writer in New York City. She’s performed all over Manhattan and Brooklyn, including at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCB Theatre), The Pit, The Magnet, People’s Improv Theater, and Stand Up NY. Favorite one-liners: “Hi, I’m Desiree Burch, and you may remember me from such movies as ‘The Wedding Singer,’ ‘Arthur,’ and my memorable role as the fat kid from ‘Tommy Boy.’ This black female comedian on Netflix is best known for her role in Netflix’s Girl’s Trip. She played Lisa, “a woman who likes to be the center of attention and repeatedly interrupts other people’s stories.” She also appeared as Trish on Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates with Zac Efron (High School Musical: The Musical) and Anna Kendrick (Love Life).
2. Sherri Shepherd
| Age: | 54 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Twitter: | sherrieshepherd |
| Instagram: | sherrieshepherd |
| Occupation: | Actress, comedian, author, television personality |
Whether on platform or screen, Daytime Emmy Award-winner Sherri Shepherd’s fascinating personality and hilarious sense of humor never fail to please audiences. In August 2009, Sherri was a member of a groundbreaking account when the hosts of The Avenue won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Program Host. That identical year, Sherri and the co-hosts were taken as part of the “100 Most Influential Individuals in the World” by Time magazine, while Forbes placed her in the top “30 of the Most Influential Women in Media” list. Sherri also successfully ran in the critically acclaimed off-Broadway hit “Love, Loss and What I Wore.” In 2013 Sasheer Zamata was the first woman of color to join Saturday Night Live’s cast in five years, and she was also the first black woman to be hired since 2006.
3. Sasheer Zamata
| Age: | 35 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Twitter: | thesheertruth |
| Instagram: | thesheertruth |
| Occupation: | Actress, comedian |
Sasheer is a black female stand-up comedian born on August 8, 1987. Her career as an actress started in 2012 when she was cast in the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. She stars on many shows, including; Clipped, opposite Dane DeHaan, and Hulu’s Difficult People. She also had a role in the popular film Pitch Perfect 2 alongside others like Rebel Wilson, Anna Kendrick, and Adam DeVine. Sasheer is a breakout performer who quickly gained a dedicated fanbase. She was named one of Vulture.com’s “50 Comedians You Should Know in 2015” and was featured on NPR’s “Weekend Edition: Saturday” as one of the “Top Ten Great One-Liners by Female Comedians.” She’s performed at the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival, Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival, Clusterfest, The Moontower Comedy and Oddity Festival, Gilda’s Laugh Fest, Hell Yes Fest, LOL Brooklyn, and New York Comedy Festival.
4. Maya Rudolph
| Age: | 48 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Twitter: | MayaRudolph |
| Instagram: | Princesstagram |
| Occupation: | Actress, comedian, singer |
Maya Rudolph (Big Mouth) is a female comedian that is taking the world by storm. She has been able to use her ditzy innocent character to create comedy gold on SNL. Maya Rudolph went from an up-and-coming female comedian to one of the most successful female comedians in the world. Maya Khabira (born July 27, 1972) is an American actress, comedian, and singer cast on Saturday Night Live from 2000 to 2004. Rudolphs’ greatest prominence came from a series of television and film appearances from 2007 to–present. In 2007 she had her initial leading role as the ditzy Southern belle in the film Bridesmaids. The following year, she co-starred in two Todd Phillips films: 2008s The Heartbreak Kid and Due Date and appeared in Grown-Ups, a comedy also featuring Zeljko Ivanek, Chris Rock, and Adam.
5. Kim Wayans
| Age: | 59 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Twitter: | Kimwayans |
| Instagram: | Kimwayans |
| Occupation: | Actress, comedian, producer, writer, director |
Wayans was born in New York, the daughter of Elvira, a housekeeper and social worker, and Howell Wayans, a supermarket manager. Her family was involved in the Jehovah’s Witnesses religion. She and her family breathed in New York’s Chelsea district. Since childhood, Kim Wayans has been in the public spotlight, starting with appearances as a child on the television series “Silver Spoons” (1982-1985). She enjoyed major fame in the 1990s when she launched her successful sitcom called “In Living Color” (1990-1993) and appeared on other popular television programs such as “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” (1990-1996). In addition, she was named a Humanitarian by UNICEF and won an NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actress.
6. Loni Love
| Age: | 49 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Twitter: | LoniLove |
| Instagram: | ComicLoniLove |
| Occupation: | Comedian, television, personality, actress, author |
Loni Love is a hilarious black female comedian, actress, and media personality whose wit and insight on love, relationships, and family have lit up the comedy stage. She has appeared on award-winning shows such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Fashion Police, Tosh.0, and Inside Amy Schumer, and has starred in the films Baggage Claim and Think like a Man Too. She is one of the favorite black female comedians British personalities who loves her family, friends, dogs, and God, in that order. She even throws in a little comedy for laughs. Since 2005, the comedienne has appeared on many television shows such as BET’s Comic View, The Adam Carolla Show, TMZ on TV, Fox Sports Net’s The Best Damn Sports Show Period, CNN for Black in America: The Loni Love Comedy Show. She has even hosted WWE’s Friday Night Smackdown.
7. Aisha Tyler
| Age: | 50 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Twitter: | aishatyler |
| Instagram: | aishatyler |
| Occupation: | Actress, comedian, talk show, host, author, producer, writer, director |
Aisha Tyler is an American actress, comedian, director, author, model, and talk show host. She currently voices the character of Lana Kane in F.X. ‘s animated sitcom Archer. Since then, Tyler has won a Critics’ Choice Award for Best TV Host, been placed on Maxim magazine’s Hot 100 list three times (in 2008, 2010, and 2012), appeared on the cover of Playboy three times, ranked number 99 on Comedy Central 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time. She stars in Archer and shoots, produces, and directs her show Web Soup. Aisha got her start as a standup comic and has earned her trademark wit to multiple presentations on “The Tonight Show,” “The Today Show,” “Politically Incorrect,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “Late Night with David Letterman,” “The Late Late Show,” and more.
8. Marina Franklin
| Age: | 35 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Twitter: | MarinayFranklin |
| Instagram: | MarinayFranklin |
| Occupation: | American Comedian |
Marina Franklin is one of the black female comedians. Any comedian that can make me laugh out loud brings me a lot of joy. I was so excited about Marina Franklin female comedian. Marina Franklin is a female comedian and actress from New York City. Through standup comedy, Franklin takes on many social issues, including her mother’s mental illness and identity as a successful African-American woman. She has been highlighted on Last Comic Standing in the Artificial documentary Selection, in an episode of Inside Amy Schumer (Life & Beth), and most recently performed on the lead track for Broad City. Marina Franklin is a female comedian and actress with a popular blog that shares her comedic adventures about dating, relationships, and having fun as a single woman in New York.
9. Ellen Cleghorne
| Age: | 55 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Twitter: | ellen_cleghorne |
| Instagram: | ellen_cleghorne |
| Occupation: | Actress, comedian |
Ellen Cleghorne is one of the older black comedians whose popularity and star power have grown significantly over the past two decades. She began her profession more than 20 years ago when she first gained widespread recognition for being part of the cast on the hit NBC sketch comedy show, In Living Color. While she originally began her career as a standup comedian ages ago, Ellen has appeared in several movies, and T.V. shows as well as writing books since coming onto the scene. She has worked with other writers over the years to develop routines that have become award-winning material. Ellen Cleghorne is a comedian with an openly gay agenda; she wants to tell the world that gay women are wonderful, hilarious people.
10. Wanda Sykes
| Age: | 57 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Twitter: | iamwandasykes |
| Instagram: | iamwandasykes |
| Occupation: | Actress, comedian, writer |
Wanda Sykes is a very successful black female comedian. Wanda Sykes is a female comedian and actress, most known for her roles in The New Adventures of Old Christine, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Ugly Betty, and The Break-Up. Wanda Sykes was born on December 6, 1964, in Portsmouth, Virginia. She graduated from the University of Virginia and would later receive a Master’s Degree in English from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is extremely talented, and she has performed on many shows and gained much fame for herself throughout the years. Beginning in stand-up comedy, Wanda Sykes appeared on comedy specials such as Comedy Central Presents: Wanda Sykes in 2005. This leads her to be ranked number 43 of Comedy Central’s 100 greatest stand-ups in 2007. Throughout her 21 years of performing, she has taped 3 HBO specials, including What Goes Around Comes Around, Wanda Does It, and Life With The Hooks in 2014.
11. Debra Wilson
| Age: | 59 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Twitter: | Debwils |
| Instagram: | debrajeanwilson |
| Occupation: | Actress, comedian, television presenter |
Debra Wilson is a female comedian who appeared on A Different World and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. A journalist for the Los Angeles Times referred to her as ‘the defining moment for women in comedy. She recently was listed on Rolling Out magazine’s Power 100 list (a list of the most powerful people in entertainment) at #8. She has performed and had hit records on the Billboard Comedy Charts. She has worked with Halle Berry, Jay-Z, Quincy Jones, David Foster, California Gov. Gray Davis, and many more. Debra Wilson, a female comedian, provides live comedy and stand-up in funny videos, articles, books, and blogs about her life experiences. She reveals what she has learned about relationships and marriage humorously. Debra Wilson, a female comedian brings positive thoughts and upbeat humor to anyone interested in having a happy marriage.
12. Mo’Nique
| Age: | 53 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Twitter: | moworldwide |
| Instagram: | therealmoworldwide |
| Occupation: | Comedian, actress, talk show, host, author |
Mo’Nique is a black female comedian, writer, and actor. She has starred in diverse films and T.V. shows, including the movie Precious where she was chosen for an Oscar for best actress. Mo’Nique is an African American comedian, improvisational actress, and producer. She is famous for her work on the UPN sketch comedy series “The Parkers” and won a Grammy for Best Comedy Awards for her role in “Oh..”, released in 2009. From her role as the mom in Precious to headliner on the Las Vegas Strip, Mo’Nique has become a star. The world of entertainment was shaken up recently when comedian Mo’Nique hosted the NAACP Image Awards. While some loved her hosting style, others were shocked to see a woman host the show in such a bold and flashy manner.
13. Lady Roz G
| Age: | 69 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Twitter: | – |
| Instagram: | – |
| Occupation: | Actress,comedian |
Lady Roz G is a black female stand up comedian of color who uses comedy to address race, gender, sexual orientation, and body issues in a very real and relatable way. We all have one. She was born in London and grew up in Toronto. Currently residing in New York City, she quickly becomes a much sought-after voice for the mainstream media, known for her dry yet positive sense of humor. She has starred on CBC radio and television programs such as Steven & Chris, CBC News Now, Metro Morning, The Debaters, and Laugh Out Loud. Also, Lady speaks French fluently, so if you need a funny french comedian, look no further Roz Goldberg – Humoriste Francaise comedienne francophone Canadienne actress Roz.
14. Alycia Cooper
| Age: | 38 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Twitter: | alyciacooper |
| Instagram: | alyciacooper |
| Occupation: | Comedian |
Alycia Cooper is a standup comedian who offers her unique humor and makes overweight men fall in love and zombies fall in love with each other. This quote best describes her humor from a T.V. show she was on: ‘Promise not to laugh when I say I want to be the number one female comedian in the world,’ says Cooper, ‘Because it’s hard out here for a woman.’ We agree with them and so do her thousands of fans. From awkward dates to uncomfortable conversations and unapologetic commentary on the dating scene and male-female relationships, Alycia shares relatable content that allows her audience to laugh at themselves. Her stream of consciousness approach engages listeners with her honesty and genuine insights into the complexities of life.
15. Erin Jackson
| Age: | 28 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Twitter: | Ejthecomic |
| Instagram: | Ejthecomic |
| Occupation: | Comedian |
CBC, CTV, HBO Canada, and Much Music’s new black female stand-up comedian Erin Jackson exploded the internet with her ‘Not Intended for Sex’ stand-up comedy video. Erin Jackson is a Toronto-based stand-up comedian whose ability to make fun of everyday life situations has landed her comedy special, opening act slots for Kevin Hart, Demetri Martin, Martin Short, and Dave Attell. Erin Jackson is one of the few Canadian comedians to release a stand-up comedy special on television. Her debut comedy album Drunk Texts To Myself debuted in the top 30 on the Canadian iTunes comedy charts less than three weeks from its release date.
Conclusion!
It’s no secret that women are severely underrepresented in the comedy world, and the odds are tough for black female comedians in particular. Not only do black female comedians have to find jokes that aren’t racist, tinged, offensive, or degrading, they have to work twice as hard for recognition because they are in a male-dominated industry. These fifteen funny women had to battle the odds and overcome many controversies while busting stereotypes in America’s world of comedy. Plus, they’ve explored many different styles of comedy, from caricature to wit, so all you can do is laugh.
