Everybody loves to laugh and there is no better way to have a giggle than by watching stand-up. While the list of stand-up comedians is vast, there has been a rise in black female comedians over the past decade. Now rivaling their male counterparts, these women are taking the comedy world by storm with their talents.

Not only are these women ruling at stand-up, but they are making waves in other areas of the entertainment world. Many are branching out into the movies or starring in their own TV shows. So whether you like a classic stand-up set, political satire, or cultural comedy, these 14 black female comedians will have you laughing out loud. 

1. Tiffany Haddish

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Tiffany Haddish had a tough upbringing but has managed to overcome those obstacles to forge ahead with a successful career in comedy. She was placed in foster care at a young age and struggled at school. By the time she graduated she was homeless and living in her car. At the age of 17 her counselor gave her two choices: either attend psychiatric therapy or the Laugh Factory Comedy Camp. Haddish chose comedy. She soon found herself embarking on a career full of laughs. 

She attributes the likes of Richard Pryor, Dane Cook, Charles Fleischer, and the Wayans to her success. Haddish first got noticed in the NBC sitcom The Carmichael Show before really making it big with Girls Trip. Along with all the hit movies and TV shows she’s starred in, Haddish also won a Primetime Emmy Award for hosting Saturday Night Live, published a memoir, The Last Black Unicorn, and became only the second African-American woman to win a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album with Black Mitzvah in 2019.

2. Wanda Sykes

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For 35 years Wanda Sykes has been making audiences laugh. The former National Security Agency employee first took the stage in 1987. She eventually quit her day job and moved to New York. She got rave reviews opening for Chris Rock at Caroline’s Comedy Club, eventually becoming a writer for The Chris Rock Show. Sykes has written and performed several successful stand-up shows, appeared in dozens of movies, and been a mainstay on a variety of TV series, including Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Other Two. Sykes popularity even saw her host the 94th Academy Awards where she got to witness Will Smith slapping her friend Chris Rock.