Make 'Em Laugh: The Funniest Black Females in Comedy

"SNL" thinks there are no funny Black women. We disagree.

Mo'Nique - As Kenan Thompson, Jay Pharoah and the SNL brass debate whether or not there are enough talented Black comediennes who would fit in with the high-caliber cast (Thompson implies that Black women are simply "not ready" while Pharoah tells his bosses it's "time to pay attention" to overlooked talent), we thought we'd give them a hand and point out a whole host of funny Black females in comedy.  In over 38 years, SNL has only had four Black women in the cast — here are many more the comedy sketch show could have choosen from over the years.  Mo'Nique always lets it all hang out on stage. The Queen of Comedy kept us entertained on the sitcom The Parkers and with her own BET talk show. Oh, and did we mention she won an Oscar for her role in the 2009 film Precious?    (Photo: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)

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Mo'Nique - As Kenan Thompson, Jay Pharoah and the SNL brass debate whether or not there are enough talented Black comediennes who would fit in with the high-caliber cast (Thompson implies that Black women are simply "not ready" while Pharoah tells his bosses it's "time to pay attention" to overlooked talent), we thought we'd give them a hand and point out a whole host of funny Black females in comedy.  In over 38 years, SNL has only had four Black women in the cast — here are many more the comedy sketch show could have choosen from over the years. Mo'Nique always lets it all hang out on stage. The Queen of Comedy kept us entertained on the sitcom The Parkers and with her own BET talk show. Oh, and did we mention she won an Oscar for her role in the 2009 film Precious?   (Photo: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)

Aisha Tyler - Tyler was the black sheep ("I stood out in high school because I was tall, weird and Black," she said) that blossomed into a swan. The former Talk Soup host and Friends series regular is the total package: gorgeous, brainy and funny as hell. What's more, Tyler  — whose humor can be so dirty it would make Chris Rock blush — has no problem being one of the boys.  (Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images for CCTA)

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Aisha Tyler - Tyler was the black sheep ("I stood out in high school because I was tall, weird and Black," she said) that blossomed into a swan. The former Talk Soup host and Friends series regular is the total package: gorgeous, brainy and funny as hell. What's more, Tyler  — whose humor can be so dirty it would make Chris Rock blush — has no problem being one of the boys.  (Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images for CCTA)

Wanda Sykes on the George Zimmerman trial:  - "If Trayvon Martin had wrestled that gun away from Zimmerman and killed him, would he be free and protected under ‘self-defense'?” (Photo: FayesVision/WENN.com)

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Wanda Sykes - Called "one of the funniest stand-up comics" by her peers and ranked among Entertainment Weekly's 25 Funniest People in America, Sykes's creds can match up — and exceed — any of her male counterparts. The funny lady, who got her start as an Emmy-winning writer for The Chris Rock Show, has had her own standup specials, published books and starred in TV shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and dozens of movies, including Monster-in-Law and Evan Almighty.  (Photo: FayesVision/WENN.com)

Photo By Photo: FayesVision/WENN.com

Sherri Shepherd - Before she became America's talk show sweetheart as one of the co-hosts of The View, Shepherd was a standup comedian in Chicago. Shepherd got her first big break co-starring on the series Cleghorne!, headlined by former SNL castmember Ellen Cleghorne. In the years leading up to The View, Shepherd stacked her resume with roles on nearly two dozen TV shows and nearly as many movies.  (Photo: Jason Merritt/BET/Getty Images for BET)

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Sherri Shepherd - Before she became America's talk show sweetheart as one of the co-hosts of The View, Shepherd was a standup comedian in Chicago. Shepherd got her first big break co-starring on the series Cleghorne!, headlined by former SNL castmember Ellen Cleghorne. In the years leading up to The View, Shepherd stacked her resume with roles on nearly two dozen TV shows and nearly as many movies.  (Photo: Jason Merritt/BET/Getty Images for BET)

Sheryl Underwood - Underwood's comedy career began in 1989 when she became the first female finalist in the popular Miller Lite Comedy Search. It was all up from there, with appearances on shows such as Politically Incorrect, HBO's All-Star Def Comedy Jam and BET's Oh, Drama. Using comedy as her medium, Underwood has been extremely outspoken about her views as a Black Republican woman.    (Photo: Maury Phillips/Getty Images for BET)

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Sheryl Underwood - Underwood's comedy career began in 1989 when she became the first female finalist in the popular Miller Lite Comedy Search. It was all up from there, with appearances on shows such as Politically Incorrect, HBO's All-Star Def Comedy Jam and BET's Oh, Drama. Using comedy as her medium, Underwood has been extremely outspoken about her views as a Black Republican woman.    (Photo: Maury Phillips/Getty Images for BET)

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On What She Prays For - "That's my number-one prayer — to get me a big ass."-The Queens of Comedy, 2001 (Photo: D Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

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Sommore - The Trenton, New Jersey native is known for her bawdy humor (she frequently pontificates on a certain aspect of the male anatomy) and is a favorite among her fellow female comedians. In 2009, she joined Mo'Nique and Laura Hayes on the Queens of Comedy tour and has also worked in television on The Hughleys and The Parkers and on the big screen in Soul Plane and Friday After Next. (Photo: D Dipasupil/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

Kim Wayans - The Wayans dynasty isn't just a boy's club. Keenan Ivory Wayans' little sister can keep up with any one of her brothers when it comes to making people laugh. The zany comic followed her older brothers to L.A. to pursue a career in stand-up and wound up in the family business as a series regular on In Living Color. She flexed her dramatic chops in the 2011 film Pariah, proving she really can do it all.    (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Kim Wayans - The Wayans dynasty isn't just a boy's club. Keenan Ivory Wayans' little sister can keep up with any one of her brothers when it comes to making people laugh. The zany comic followed her older brothers to L.A. to pursue a career in stand-up and wound up in the family business as a series regular on In Living Color. She flexed her dramatic chops in the 2011 film Pariah, proving she really can do it all.    (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Loni Love - Aside from being a hilarious commentator and actress, Love was a pretty amazing stand-up comic. She was a runner up on Star Search and was named among the "Top 10 Comics to Watch" by both Variety and Comedy Central. She's had stints on Chelsea Lately, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and now co-hosts her own talk show, The Real.   (Photo: Vincent Sandoval/WireImage/Getty Images)

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Loni Love - Aside from being a hilarious commentator and actress, Love was a pretty amazing stand-up comic. She was a runner up on Star Search and was named among the "Top 10 Comics to Watch" by both Variety and Comedy Central. She's had stints on Chelsea Lately, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno and now co-hosts her own talk show, The Real.  (Photo: Vincent Sandoval/WireImage/Getty Images)

Adele Givens - The Chicago native was part of the Queens of Comedy tour, starring Mo'Nique, Laura Hayes and Sommore, and has appeared on TV shows ranging from Def Comedy Jam, Martin and The Steve Harvey Show. On the big screen, she can be seen in Beauty Shop and The Player's Club.  (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Adele Givens - The Chicago native was part of the Queens of Comedy tour, starring Mo'Nique, Laura Hayes and Sommore, and has appeared on TV shows ranging from Def Comedy Jam, Martin and The Steve Harvey Show. On the big screen, she can be seen in Beauty Shop and The Player's Club. (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Laura Hayes - A former felon determined to get off the streets and make something of herself, at times it seems Hayes succeeded out of sheer will. But her immense talent as a stand-up comedian didn't hurt, either. Hayes rounds out the Queens of Comedy lineup and has done her thing as co-host of BET's Comic View and currently stars on Meet the Browns.  (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Laura Hayes - A former felon determined to get off the streets and make something of herself, at times it seems Hayes succeeded out of sheer will. But her immense talent as a stand-up comedian didn't hurt, either. Hayes rounds out the Queens of Comedy lineup and has done her thing as co-host of BET's Comic View and currently stars on Meet the Browns. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Erica Watson - Self described as "fat and sassy," Watson uses her perspective as a big, bold Black woman for her material. Het hit standup show "Fat B---h" brought down the house in NYC before she started traveling with it in 2009. Erica also had a small role in 2009's Precious.   (Photo: Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

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Erica Watson - Self described as "fat and sassy," Watson uses her perspective as a big, bold Black woman for her material. Het hit standup show "Fat B---h" brought down the house in NYC before she started traveling with it in 2009. Erica also had a small role in 2009's Precious.  (Photo: Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

Desiree Burch - Burch has been working the NYC comedy circuit for years, performing all over Manhattan and still making time for charity work. The Yale graduate was named one of The Huffington Post's "Favorite Female Comedians" in 2012.  (Photo courtesy of desireeburch.com by Christopher Cartmill)

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Desiree Burch - Burch has been working the NYC comedy circuit for years, performing all over Manhattan and still making time for charity work. The Yale graduate was named one of The Huffington Post's "Favorite Female Comedians" in 2012. (Photo courtesy of desireeburch.com by Christopher Cartmill)

Michelle Buteau - This New Yorker has also shared more then her opinions on VH1's Best Week Ever,  MTV's Walk of Shame and the Oxygen Network's Kiss & Tell series, and is gaining popularity in the cutthroat comedy world. She is definitely a great potential cast member for SNL! (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for LOGO)

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Michelle Buteau - This New Yorker has also shared more then her opinions on VH1's Best Week Ever,  MTV's Walk of Shame and the Oxygen Network's Kiss & Tell series, and is gaining popularity in the cutthroat comedy world. She is definitely a great potential cast member for SNL! (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images for LOGO)

Marina Franklin - Originally from Chicago, Franklin made her acting debut at the Illinois Rep Theatre and then quickly realized her love for acting. She went on to pursue a MFA in acting at Syracuse University before moving to New York and taking the city by storm. She has appeared on Chapelle's Show, Last Comic Standing and many other series. (Photo: Barry Brecheisen)

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Marina Franklin - Originally from Chicago, Franklin made her acting debut at the Illinois Rep Theatre and then quickly realized her love for acting. She went on to pursue a MFA in acting at Syracuse University before moving to New York and taking the city by storm. She has appeared on Chapelle's Show, Last Comic Standing and many other series. (Photo: Barry Brecheisen)

Issa Rae - The original Awkward Black Girl started a revolution when she posted her web series online and found hundreds of thousands of young people could relate to her message. Rae is now developing a series with television's premiere hitmaker Shonda Rhimes.  (Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)

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Issa Rae - The original Awkward Black Girl started a revolution when she posted her web series online and found hundreds of thousands of young people could relate to her message. Rae is now developing a series with television's premiere hitmaker Shonda Rhimes. (Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)

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Jessica Williams - The newest correspondent for The Daily Show, Williams brings her signature wit to television every night. The six-foot-tall Los Angeles native refers to herself as a "comedic animal," and if by that she means a beautiful, smart and hilarious star-in-the-making, we agree.  (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Comedy Central)

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Jessica Williams - The newest correspondent for The Daily Show, Williams brings her signature wit to television every night. The six-foot-tall Los Angeles native refers to herself as a "comedic animal," and if by that she means a beautiful, smart and hilarious star-in-the-making, we agree. (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Comedy Central)

Whoopi Goldberg - Arguably one of the biggest female comedians to ever pick up a mic, Goldberg is still going strong after thirty years in the business. The comedian, Oscar-winning actress and host of The View has had an incredible run and broke a lot of ground along the way for the other ladies on this list. Decades ago, she auditioned for SNL but didn't land the gig — she has since said it was the best thing that happened to her.   (Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

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Whoopi Goldberg - Arguably one of the biggest female comedians to ever pick up a mic, Goldberg is still going strong after thirty years in the business. The comedian, Oscar-winning actress and host of The View has had an incredible run and broke a lot of ground along the way for the other ladies on this list. Decades ago, she auditioned for SNL but didn't land the gig — she has since said it was the best thing that happened to her.   (Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

Photo By Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic/Getty Images

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Jackie "Moms" Mabley - At a time when most women were housewives, Moms Mabley was a true groundbreaker. After coming out as a lesbian at age 27 (just after the turn of the century), Moms made a great living as the star of the "Chitlin' Circuit," earning up to $10,000 a week at the height of her career. Her work has influenced everyone from Tyler Perry to Whoopi Goldberg, who is working on a documentary about her. Mabley was active until well into the 1970s. From Moms Mabley to Issae Rae, Black women in comedy have always been ready for the stage. (Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)