The 15 Iconic Black Female Comedians Who Broke Barriers

The 15 Iconic Black Female Comedians Who Broke Barriers

For a long time, only white men were given chances in comedy. But these 15 funny black women fought racism and sexism to make their voices heard. They used humor to point out the unfairness that African Americans faced daily. Pioneers like Moms Mabley and Whoopi Goldberg showed future comedians that black women belong on stage too.

 Today, Tiffany Haddish continues to speak out about black culture and women’s rights, inspiring more diversity in entertainment. These barrier-breaking talents demonstrate that black female comedians can not only make us laugh but also make us think. Let’s look at the 10 iconic black female comedians below;

1. Moms Mabley

CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Moms Mabley was a very funny African-American stand-up comedian. She first gained prominence in the 1930s and was popular for over 30 years. At that time, there were not many black women comedians. She was one of the first successful ones.

Even though she faced discrimination, Mabley used comedy to make people laugh about hard times. She helped open doors for other black comedians. Mabley made audiences of all races laugh with her jokes about everyday life. She broke down barriers with her talent at a time when opportunities were limited for African-American entertainers. 

2. Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg is a very famous and successful African-American comedian and actor. She first became popular in the 1980s. At that time there were not many black women doing comedy. Goldberg broke barriers by becoming one of the first widely known black female comedians.

 Her amazing talent as a comedian and actor opened doors for young comedians and actors after her. Goldberg earned huge audiences with work like her  Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit and Sister Act. Her career has inspired many minorities and women to enter the entertainment business.

3. Wanda Sykes

Greg Hernandez, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Wanda Sykes is an African-American stand-up comedian, actress, and writer. She achieved huge success in comedy back in the days when there were few black female comedians. Though she faced challenges entering the field in the late 1980s, Sykes did not give up. She was especially talented at pointing out controversial issues with sharp wit.

Over time, Sykes broke into acting and gained more fans. Her outstanding comedy career demonstrated that talented black women could achieve mainstream American success in entertainment. She paved the way for other black female comedians by breaking barriers with laughter in comedy clubs, on television, in film, and as an author.

4. Mo’Nique

Mo’Nique is an African-American comedian and actor who broke through in the early 2000s comedy scene. She stood out with her bold, blunt style that got audiences laughing at topics some found uncomfortable. Mo’Nique was not afraid to be provocative with her comedy.

Her talent and resilience eventually earned her widespread popularity. In 2009, Mo’Nique broke barriers by becoming the first black female comedian to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the film Precious. Her outstanding career has inspired many women of color to pursue comedy and acting dreams.

5. Leslie Jones

slgckgc, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Leslie Jones is an African-American comedian and actor born in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. She persevered through early struggles as a stand-up comedian and writer. After some early disappointments, Jones broke barriers in 2014 as the first black female cast member of Saturday Night Live in over a decade.

With her bold, frank humor that challenged stereotypes, Jones achieved fame as a movie star in her 40s. She has demonstrated that black female comedians can find large, appreciative audiences in the 2010s.

6. Sommore

Sommore is an African-American stand-up comedian. Apart from being a comedian, he is also an actress. She first became popular in the 1990s for using raw, bold humor that made people laugh about relationships and dating.

Though she faced obstacles in her early comedy career, her persistence and challenge of stereotypes broke barriers. Sommore helped prove that fearless, empowering points of view could allow black female comics to find large audiences. She paved the way with her success as a comedian, hosting awards shows, and acting in films. Some of her work includes Friday After Next Soul Plane and many more.

7. Aisha Tyler

Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Aisha Tyler is an African-American actress and stand-up comedian who achieved mainstream success across entertainment mediums starting in the 1990s. She persisted despite limited roles for black women early in her career. With her thoughtful comedy and co-hosting The Talk Show, Tyler continues breaking barriers for representation.

Her versatility and resilience in various acting, comedy, and hosting jobs paved the way for more inclusion. Tyler uses humor and intelligence hence dismantling stereotypes and provides a role model for black female performers achieving their dreams in show business.

8. Tiffany Haddish

Tiffany Haddish is one of a well-known black female stand-up comedian and actor. Though comedy and film were mostly dominated by white men when she started in the 2000s, Haddish used her funny experiences from a challenging upbringing in her comedy routines.

These jokes led to acting success in movies and TV shows. In 2017, she broke new ground with her supporting actress role in the hit movie Girls Trip. Today she has a huge success in comedy and acting and she serves as an inspirational example to other black female performers hoping to break barriers in entertainment.

9. Luenell

Angela George, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Luenell is a trailblazing black female comedian and actor who achieved success in stand-up comedy starting in the 1990s. Luenell used raw, uncensored comedy routines to find her comedic voice. This authenticity earned her a loyal following. Her talent and tenacity eventually landed acting roles as well, including the hit comedy Borat.

Now a comedy veteran, Luenell continues to break new ground over 30 years into her barrier-breaking career. With her longevity and sustained relevance in stand-up tours and film cameos, Luenell serves as an inspiration to black female comedians and proves that unapologetic talents can overcome obstacles.

10. Amber Ruffin

Amber Ruffin is a groundbreaking black female comedian who shot to fame as a performer on Late Night with Seth Meyers. As the first black woman to write for a late-night network TV show, Amber brought fresh comedy perspectives rooted in her experiences as a black American. Viewers loved Amber’s smart commentary and ability to find humor even when discussing racism.

In 2020, Amber broke new ground again with her own late-night show, “The Amber Ruffin Show.” Her show highlights Amber’s silly, yet pointed skits and sketches about current events. As both a writer behind the scenes and comedian in the spotlight, Amber Ruffin’s voice has provided a one-of-a-kind black female lens in the late-night space that has been predominantly white men. She is paving the way for more black women in comedy.

11. Nicole Byer

Benjamin Ragheb from New York, NY, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nicole Byer is a fantastic Black female comedian who shines in the world of comedy. She has a sharp wit and hilarious storytelling hence becoming a breaking barrier for black women comedians. Byer has become an inspiration for many by fearlessly sharing her unique perspective and making people laugh. Her talent, charisma, and authenticity have not only brought joy to audiences but have also helped open the way for more diversity and representation in the comedy industry. Nicole Byer is a true standout and prominent in the world of humor.

12. Jessica Williams

Nicole Byer, a fantastic Black female comedian, shines in the world of comedy. With her sharp wit and hilarious storytelling, she’s become a trailblazer, breaking barriers for women of color. By fearlessly sharing her unique perspective and making people laugh, Byer has become an inspiration for many. Her talent, charisma, and authenticity have not only brought joy to audiences but have also helped pave the way for more diversity and representation in the comedy industry. Nicole Byer is a true standout, making her mark in the world of humor.

13. LaLa Milan

LaLa Milan is one of the rising stars among Black female comedians who has broken barriers with her comedic brilliance. Through her infectious humor and relatable content, Milan has carved out a unique space, challenging stereotypes and expanding representation in comedy.

Some of the comedian’s works include Girl Code in 2013, The Good Place in 2019, Brooklyn Nine-Nine in 2019-2021, and All About Nina in 2018 among others. LaLa Milan is making significant strides in creating the way for a more inclusive comedic landscape.

14. Debra Wilson

Toglenn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Debra Wilson is a very funny black woman who was one of the first black female comedians on television. In the 1990s, she joined the cast of the comedy sketch show MADtv. This was a big deal because most sketch shows at the time only had white men. On MADtv, Debra got to showcase her hilarious characters and impressions, like her popular spoof of Whitney Houston. Even though the show did not always give Debra the credit she deserved, her presence as a black woman doing edgy comedy sketches was groundbreaking. She opened the door for more black female comedians to take the stage. Debra Wilson showed that black women can be funny too, even if people do not expect it. Her comedy talent broke down barriers.

15. Sheryl Underwood

eternalconceptspr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sheryl Underwood is a very funny black female comedian who became famous in the early 2000s. She was able to take her comedy career to the next level when she joined the talk show “The Talk” in 2011. Even though Sheryl had been doing stand-up comedy for years before that, getting a seat at the table on a popular daytime talk show was a big accomplishment for a black female comedian.

On “The Talk,” Sheryl could use her humor to connect with audiences and discuss important issues from her own perspective as a black woman. She showed that black female voices matter just as much as famous white talk show hosts. Sheryl Underwood broke barriers by claiming space as a black comedian on daytime television.