15 of the most hilarious black stand-up comedians of all time

15 of the most hilarious black stand-up comedians of all time

Many stand-up comedians can attest that getting people to laugh is more complex than it appears. Being an excellent stand-up comedian requires being well-prepared and adaptable, as different audiences respond differently to comedy. Therefore, most black stand-up comedians strive to remain relevant in the industry by conducting extensive research on the types of jokes they tell.

Black stand-up comedians
Photo: Robin L Marshall, Kevin Mazur, Vallery Jean (modified by author)
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Black comedy has a proven legacy, both in the United States and around the world. For ages, cultural and political constraints prevented black comedians from becoming famous or pursuing professions in comedy. However, this did not prevent black comedians in America from fighting for the right to pursue entertainment as a profession.

15 black stand-up comedians of all time

Comedians have made comedy one of the best professions for coming generations by playing an essential role in its development. The following are some of the funniest stand-up black comedians of all time.

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1. Chris Rock

Black stand-up comedians
In this handout photo provided by A.M.P.A.S., Chris Rock is seen backstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. Photo: Al Seib
Source: Getty Images

Christopher Julius Rock is a stand-up comedian, filmmaker, and actor from the United States. He has earned numerous honours for his roles in comic films, theatre, and television, along with three Grammy Awards for most excellent comedy album, a Golden Globe Award nomination and four Primetime Emmy Awards,

He was listed fifth on Comedy Central's compilation of the 100 finest Stand-ups of all moments. In addition, Chris Rock was ranked fifth on Rolling Stone's 50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time.

2. Steve Harvey

Black stand-up comedians
Steve Harvey speaks onstage during 2022 InvestFest at Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: Paras Griffin
Source: Getty Images

Broderick Stephen Harvey Sr. is one of the black stand-up comedians who are rarely seen. He is an actor, television host, comedian and producer from the United States. He hosts Family Feud, Family Feud Africa, Celebrity Family Feud, Miss Universe, The Steve Harvey Morning Show, and the court comedy Judge Steve Harvey.

Harvey started his profession as a stand-up comic. In the early 1980s, he did stand-up comedy and anchored Showtime at The Steve Harvey Show on The W.B. and Apollo. He was spotlighted in The Original Kings of Comedy due to his role on the Kings of Comedy Tour. His ultimate stand-up performance was in 2012.

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3. Eddie Murphy

Black stand-up comedians
Eddie Murphy, the Lifetime Achievement Award winner, attends the 25th Annual Critics' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. Photo: Michael Kovac
Source: Getty Images

Edward Regan Murphy is a comedian, actor, producer, singer, and writer from the United States. He rose to prominence as a typical cast participant on the sketch comedy program Saturday Night Live from 1980 to 1984.

He has also functioned as a stand-up comedian, ranking 10th on Comedy Central's 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time.

4. Richard Pryor

Lennox, Richard Franklin Thomas Pryor Sr. is one of the most iconic black male stand-up comedians. He was an actor and stand-up comedian of African-American descent.

He attained a large audience with his sharp observations and storytelling technique, and he is primarily viewed as one of the world's most influential stand-up comedians of the moment.

5. Bill Cosby

Black stand-up comedians
Bill Cosby speaks to reporters outside of his home in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania. Bill Cosby was released from prison after the court overturned his sexual assault conviction. Photo: Michael Abbott
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William Henry Cosby Jr. is an actor, stand-up comedian, and media personality from the United States. He made substantial achievements in American and African cultures. He is highly recognised in America for his bizarre image, earning him the moniker 'America's Dad for his depiction of Cliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show (1984–1992).

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He started his profession as a stand-up comic first at hungry I nightclub in San Francisco in the 1960s. Bill Cosby launched several stand-up comedy records across the decade, earning him the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album on each occasion from 1965 to 1970.

6. Dave Chappelle

Black stand-up comedians
Dave Chappelle looks on during the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo: Tim Nwachukwu
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Webber, David Khari Chappelle is one of the best black comedians on Netflix. He is an actor and stand-up comedian from the United States. He is popularly known for his scathing comedy sketch series Chappelle's Show (2003-2006), in which he featured until the third season when he left amid production.

After a brief hiatus, Chappelle resumed conducting stand-up comedy throughout the United States.

7. Chris Tucker

Black stand-up comedians
Chris Tucker attends the 2022 Chris Tucker Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament at Eagles Landing Country Club in Stockbridge, Georgia. Photo: Derek White
Source: Getty Images

He is an actor and comedian from the United States. Chris started his stand-up debut in 1992 on the HBO comedy series Def Comedy Jam, where he regularly emerged throughout the 1990s.

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He starred in the films The Fifth Element, Jackie Brown Money Talks, and Friday before becoming well-known for his role as Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour series, over which he received numerous awards.

8. Martin Lawrence

Black stand-up comedians
Martin Lawrence attends BET+ and hosts a celebration with the cast and crew of 'Martin: The Reunion' in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Emma McIntyre
Source: Getty Images

He is a stand-up comedian and actor from the United States. Martin rose to prominence in the 1990s, creating a successful Hollywood profession as a lead role. He began his acting career in what's Happening Now! as Maurice Warfield (1987–1988).

He was the main character in the Fox television sitcom Martin, Open Season, Wild Hogs, Big Momma's House, Nothing to Lose, House Party, Boomerang, Blue Streak, Life, Black Knight, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, and the Bad Boys franchise.

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9. Katt Williams

Black stand-up comedians
Katt Williams performs in concert at Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Photo: Donald Kravitz
Source: Getty Images

Micah Williams, famously known as Katt, is an actor and stand-up comedian from the United States. He started doing stand-up comedy when he was 13 years old, and by 1990, he had developed into a further distinguishable and intriguing comic. In addition, he has had a variety of successful individual stand-up shows.

10. Redd Foxx

Black stand-up comedians
Redd Foxx is appearing on 'Saturday Night Live. Photo: Ann Limongello
Source: Getty Images

John Elroy Sanford, famously recognised as Redd Foxx, was a stand-up comedian and famous actor from the United States. Foxx rose to prominence with his raunchy nightclub act before and during the civil human rights movement.

He was recognised as the 'King of the Party Records' and has emerged on over 50 documentations during his career. On the television show Sanford and Son, he played Fred G. Sanford and also appeared in The Redd Foxx Show and The Royal Family. His films and T.V. series include; All the Fine Young Cannibals (1960), Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970), Norman... Is That You? (1976), and Harlem Nights (1989)?

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11. D. L. Hughley

Black stand-up comedians
Comedian D.L. Hughley performs during his appearance at The Ice House Comedy Club in Pasadena, California. Photo: Michael S. Schwartz
Source: Getty Images

Darryl Lynn Hughley is an actor and stand-up comedian from the United States. He is better known for hosting B.E.T.'s ComicView from 1992 to 1993, playing the eponymous role on the ABC/UPN sitcom The Hughleys, and being one of the "Big Four" comedians in The Original Kings of Comedy.

He has also been the presenter of CNN's D. L. Hughley Breaks the News, a reporter for The Jay Leno Show on N.B.C., and a New York City radio broadcaster and interviewer.

12. Desiree Burch

Black stand-up comedians
Desiree Burch on stage for Stand Up For Shelter at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in London, United Kingdom. Photo: by Ollie Millington
Source: Getty Images

Desiree Lea Burch is one of the many new black stand-up comedians. She is an actor, comedian, television host, and voice actor from the United States. Burch, born in Diamond Bar, California, resided in Streatham, Croydon, New York, and Peckham before moving to London to live with her partner in 2014.

She won the 'Funny Women' title in 2015 after completing a gruelling series of gigs across the U.K. She accompanied this achievement with five-star evaluations and a Fringe First Award for her one-woman, self-composed show, Tar Baby, at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

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13. Loni Love

Black stand-up comedians
Loni Love at the Paramount Emmy Party held at Catch Steak in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Gilbert Flores
Source: Getty Images

Loni Love is one of the best black female stand-up comedians on Comedy Central. She is a television host, comedian, author, famous actress, and erstwhile electrical engineer from the United States. She began her profession as an engineer in the early 2000s and then moved on to music engineering before starting a profession in stand-up comedy.

She finished second on Star Search in 2003 and was designated as one of the Top 10 Comics to Watch in 2009 by Variation and Comedy Central. In addition, she co-hosted the daytime talk show The Real, which aired from 15 July 2013 to 3 June 2022.

14. Eddie Griffin

Black stand-up comedians
Eddie Griffin arrives at the 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Rodin Eckenroth
Source: Getty Images

Edward Rubin Griffin is an actor and stand-up comedian from the United States. He is widely known for his roles as Eddie Sherman in Malcolm & Eddie, the main protagonist in the 2002 comic film Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo (2005) and Undercover Brother, and Tiberius Jefferson "T.J." Hicks in Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999).

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In addition, he played Orpheus in Scary Movie 3 (2003) and Richard Pryor in Black Dynamite (2012–2015). He was listed 62 on Comedy Central's 100 Best Stand-Up Comedians of All Moments ranking.

15. Kevin Hart

Black stand-up comedians
Kevin Hart attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Netflix's "Me Time" at Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Axelle
Source: Getty Images

He is an actor and comedian from the United States. Hart debuted his profession as a stand-up comedian and has since appeared in Hollywood films and television. He has also produced several successful comedy albums.

His initial breakthrough came after winning a few stand-up comedy contests when Judd Apatow featured him in a regular role on the TV show Undeclared (2001).

Since then, he's appeared in movies like Paper Soldiers (2002), Little Fockers (2010), The Secret Life of Pets film franchise (2016-2019), Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017), Ride Along 2 (2016), and Night School (2018). He also established and featured in Real Husbands of Hollywood (2022) as a fictionalised form of himself

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Above are some of the most hilarious black stand-up comedians of all time. They play an essential role in the entertainment industry and go above and beyond to ensure that their audiences worldwide are entertained.

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When the topic of all-time greatest athletes pops up, there is usually some controversy over whether or not to differentiate between male and female involvement. It is occasionally even more difficult since several sports have been around for decades.

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Tatiana Thiga (Lifestyle writer) Tatiana Thiga is a content creator who joined Yen in 2022. She is an English literature graduate from Kenyatta University. She has amassed sufficient knowledge working on a variety of topics, including biographies, fashion and lifestyles, guides, and more. In 2023, Tatiana finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her at tatianathiga@gmail.com