Black women in comedy

Black American women have been trying to make a voice for themselves in comedy for years. Many Black women in comedy have broken barriers that have paved the way of success for others.
History
1930s
One of the first known black women to successfully do stand up comedy was Moms Mabley. She was the first woman comedian to perform stand up at Harlem's historic Apollo Theater.
1962
“Moms” Mabley performed at Carnegie Hall for the first time. This performance gained her a white audience and allowed her the chance to appear on television.
1979
Cicely Tyson becomes the first black woman to host SNL. In 1978-1979 Yvonne Hudson was a recurring cast member on the show.
1985
Danitra Vanice becomes the first black woman to be a full cast member on SNL.
2001
Showtime premiered The Queens of Comedy, starring Miss Laura Hayes, Adele Givens, Sommore, and Mo'Nique.
2002
Whoopi Goldberg becomes the first African American person to have won an Emmy award, a Grammy award, an Academy Award, and a Tony award. As of 2020, only fifteen people have accomplished this feat.

2003
Wanda Sykes becomes the first black woman to get her own show.
2014
Amber Ruffin becomes the first Black woman to write for Late Night with Seth Meyers.
2016
*After years of writing, directing, and acting in her own content, Issa Rae makes the transition from web-series Awkward Black Girl to TV, co-creating and starring in the HBO show Insecure. Rae has received two Golden Globe Award nominations and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her role in the show.
*Michaela Coel writer, actor and creator of the show Chewing Gum received a British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards for Best Female Comedy Performance.
2017
*Tracee Ellis Ross receives the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV comedy.
*Franchesca Ramsey the first Black Woman to host a Comedy Central show.
2020
*Auntie Hammy becomes the first black female comedian to have a solo song reach a number one position on the Apple Music comedy charts, a number seven position on Billboard’s Comedy Albums and one billion views on TikTok with her single “Pew Pew Pew” from her 2018 full release album Issa 22.
Notable Black Women in Comedy
*Moms Mabley, one of the first successful black female comedians.
*Whoopi Goldberg, one of only fifteen entertainers to have won an Emmy award, a Grammy award, an Academy Award, and a Tony award. She was the first African American person to do so.
*Stefani Robinson, writer for the FX series , Man Seeking Woman, and . She is a co-executive producer and writer for the FX series .
*Robin Thede, head writer for The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore. Previously worked on Real Husbands of Hollywood and for The Queen Latifah Show.

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