What It’s Like To Be A Black Comedienne: 10 Hilarious Women Share Their Trials & Triumphs

Comedy is not an easy industry to break into, build on and thrive in. Add on being Black and a woman? Forget it!

Remember when Saturday Night Live star, Kenan Thompson said that the lack of Black women comedians on SNL is because we’re not “ready?” Well, sadly, he’s not the only person who thinks that Black women don’t have what it takes to excel in comedy, but lucky for us, he’s wrong.

MUST READ: Leslie Jones’ No. 1 Slave Draft Pick Joke On ‘SNL’ May Have Offended Black People But I Thought It Was Funny

 

There are plenty of Black women within the comedy space. And while SNL tried to make moves by hiring Sasheer Zamata and Leslie Jones, that’s still only two of many Black women who deserve a check from the NBC comedy giant.

#TeamBeautiful got the chance to chat with 10 Black comediennes who have all had stories of triumph and trials as they try to “make it” in comedy. Here are their stories:

Follow These Funny Ladies:

Stephanie McRae:

Watch Stephanie’s comedy on YouTube.

Nichelle Stephens:

Follow Nichelle on Twitter @niche, where she’s sure to be live tweeting your favorite shows and follow her other blog @CupcakeBlog Also, check out Chicks & Giggles!

Hadiyah Robinson:

She’s going on the road with the fabulously funny Erica Watson this summer across the U.S. hitting every clubs, bars and baby showers. Please follow them on @ThatRoadLife on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Maryssa Smith:

Check out Maryssa’s shows. She produces two monthly shows, Fashionably Funny at Broadway Comedy Club and Merriment and Mortification at Otto’s Shrunken Head.

Phoebe Robinson:

Catch Phoebe on “Late Night With Seth Meyers” and follow her on Twitter @PRobinsonComedy.

Yamaneika Saunders:

Watch Yamaneika on Oxygen’s new show, “Funny Girls,” premiering April 7th. Also, follow her on Twitter @Yamaneika!

Chloe Hilliard:

Follow Chloe on Instagram & Twitter @Chloe_Hilliard and go see her headline live at Caroline’s on April 28th!

Akilah Hughes:

Check out Akilah on YouTube & follow her on social media!

Loni Love:

Catch her on “The Real” or on her stand up comedy tour!

Del Harrison:

Follow Del on Twitter and catch her on a new TV show that she can’t tell us about quite yet!

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What It’s Like To Be A Black Comedienne: 10 Hilarious Women Share Their Trials & Triumphs  was originally published on hellobeautiful.com