Why have no black female stand up comedians ever crossed over?

[ThrobbingHood]

In light of the Monique/Netflix controversy, I’ve seen and had many discussions on why no black female stand up comedian has crossed over.

And by crossed over I mean to the level of Richard Pryor, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle etc.

I’ve got my own theory which I will post later but I’m curious to know what you believe the reason for this is?

Are black women in the comedy industry not given the same opportunities as their white counterparts or black male counterparts?

Do black female comedians struggle to have the mainstream appeal that black male comedians have managed to obtain?

Or maybe there hasn’t been a black female comedian on the level of the aforementioned black male comedians?



Discuss.

 

[get these nets]

Whoopi Goldberg says Hi

 

[ThrobbingHood]

Whoopi Goldberg says Hi

There’s reason I specifically put stand up and not comedian/comedic actress in the title. Two different aspects of comedy. No one has ever called Tina Fey or Melissa McCarthy stand up comedians. And Whoopi is known more for her acting.

 

[The Coochie Assassin]

Haddish has definitely crossed over now...and is set to have a bigger year in 2018

 

[Doobie Doo]

Whoopi, Aisha Tyler, Sheryl Underwood, Wanda Sykes, Leslie, Sherri Shepard have had SOME level of crossover success

 

[Doobie Doo]

There’s reason I specifically put stand up and not comedian/comedic actress in the title. Two different aspects of comedy. No one has ever called Tina Fey or Melissa McCarthy stand up comedians. And Whoopi is known more for her acting.

Fam Whoopi did standup and there are a ton of videos on Youtube

 

[The Emperor]

Whoopi Goldberg
Wanda Sykes
Thea had a show on ABC

 

[ThrobbingHood]

Haddish has definitely crossed over now...and is set to have a bigger year in 2018

She’s definitely breaking barriers. Time will tell if her stand up will translate into the sand level of success as the others I mentioned.

 

[Vandelay]

Fam Whoopi did standup and there are a ton of videos on Youtube

Lol

Can't blame it on age because she had a special like 5 years ago or something.

 

[Mike Nasty]

Wanda Sykes, Aisha Tyler.

 

[Hungerpain]

Op doesn't know what he's talking about.

 

[get these nets]

There’s reason I specifically put stand up and not comedian/comedic actress in the title. Two different aspects of comedy. No one has ever called Tina Fey or Melissa McCarthy stand up comedians. And Whoopi is known more for her acting.

I hear you...but she started off a stand up comedian, got her foot in the door and branched off into other things

Check out the Comic Relief specials she did back in the day with fellow standups turn actors..Robin Williams & Billy Crystal

 

[ThrobbingHood]

Whoopi, Aisha Tyler, Sheryl Underwood, Wanda Sykes, Leslie, Sherri Shepard have had SOME level of crossover success

Fam Whoopi did standup and there are a ton of videos on Youtube

Ok, I’m not making myself clear here. I’m specifically talking about crossing over in stand up on the same level as Pryor, Rock, Chappelle, Hart etc. None of those women you mentioned have had the same level of success in stand up.

A lot of them have parlayed their start in stand up into roles into tv shows, Hollywood, presenters, being part of a talk show etc.

My point is none of them have had their stand up cross over the same way as their black male counterparts have. There is no black female equivalent of “Raw”, “Killing Them Softly”, “Live”, “Let Me Explain.”

Whoopi Goldberg
Wanda Sykes
Thea had a show on ABC

That’s not my point.

 

[1thouwow]

All females ain’t as funny as they think they are

 

[get these nets]

OP....it would be hard to name 5 comedians EVER who have crossed over into Pryor or Eddie Murphy level stardom as standups....