24 Best Black Stand Up Comedians With Netflix Comedy Specials

Comedy still seems to be a world that is dominated by men, but not for long!

There are female comics who have been doing it for years and even a few newcomers who are making a splash.

From women to men, old to young, here are the 24 best black stand up comedians with specials you’ll find on Netflix.

Black Female Comedians On Netflix

Tiffany Haddish’s Black Mitzvah

Before Black Mitzvah, Tiffany Haddish came from humble beginnings and she has never shied away from mentioning it.

At one point, she was living in her car, but thankfully for her, her luck would change.

While she started by receiving roles in The Carmichael Show and the movie Keanu, she really became noticed after appearing in the 2017 film Girls Trip alongside Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett-Smith, and Regina Hall.

Since then, she has been cast as a regular in the TV series The Last O.G. In her recent Netflix special, the comedienne celebrates her 40^th birthday as she takes the audience down a trip of her life.

Leslie Jones’s Time Machine

Leslie Jones rose to fame in 2014 when she joined the cast of Saturday Night Live.

While she’s had some controversy in her career, she’s been glowing up these last few years.

The comedian has appeared in films like Trainwreck and Ghostbuster.

More recently, she was given a Netflix special, Time Machine, which was released in January 2020.

Performing stand up, Leslie Jones riddles the audience with laughs about trying to seduce Prince and more.

Wanda Sykes’s Not Normal

Comedian Wanda Sykes first got her professional start with Chris Rock as a writer for The Chris Rock Show.

After gaining fame and recognition for the jokes that she wrote, she would go on to star in TV shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm, The New Adventures of Old Christine, and Black-ish.

More recently, the comedian was given her own Netflix series Not Normal.

In this stand up performance in front of her audience, she throws in jokes as she talks about hard topics like politics, racism, and more.

Sommore’s The Reign Continues

Now, you’ve probably heard of Sommore because she’s been around for decades laying on the jokes.

The comedian came from humble beginnings in Trenton, New Jersey.

While she studied business administration as Morris Brown College, she was constantly on the search for her big break into the world of comedy.

After appearing on series like Def Comedy Jam and Showtime at the Apollo, she would soon make appearances on The Hughleys and The Parkers.

Since then, the comedian has appeared in movies like Soul Plane and Friday After Next.

This was all before her comedy special The Reign Continues that now appears on Netflix.

And there’s a fun fact about Sommore.

She’s actually sisters with the one and only Nia Long!

Gina Yashere’s Laughing to America

While many of the people on this list are American, Gina Yashere is representing from across the pond.

This Londoner first began working as a maintenance technician before she was able to break out into the world of comedy.

At the beginning of her comedic career which began in the mid-1990s, she appeared in comedy and animated series.

She would appear on a series of audition-based shows, even appearing on Last Comic Standing.

It was her 2008 appearance on Def Comedy Jam that got her noticed, especially since she was the first British person to ever appear on it.

After this performance, she caught the attention of Conan O’Brien and appeared on his show later in 2009.

Since then, she was able to gain her own stand-up comedy special.

The comedian’s special Laughing to America shares stories of her rise and her life.

Black Male Comedians On Netflix

Richard Pryor’s Live

He’s your favorite comedian’s favorite comedian.

If you ask the comedians of today to name some of their favorite acts, they’d probably all name Richard Pryor.

He’s often seen as the first and best to ever do it.

Throughout his career, he’s had tons of stand-up specials ranging from Live & Smokin’ to …Is It Something I Said?

If you want to catch the late comedian on Netflix, you can check out his 1979 Live in Concert.

While the comedian is known for his stand up routines, he’s also appeared in numerous films alongside his buddy, Gene Wilder.

With a highly decorated career, the comedian has an Emmy Award and an astounding five Grammy Awards.

Plus, we all know how much Rolling Stone likes to make their list.

In 2017, they named him as number one on the best 50 stand up comedians.

Martin Lawrence’s Live: Runteldat

Martin Lawrence is by far one of the most iconic comedians of our time.

He’s truly a jack of all trades.

While being known as a comedian and actor, you could also call him a producer, talk show host, writer, and former boxer.

We’ve seen Martin Lawrence in tons of movies, including a few on this list.

One special that we’re definitely tuning in to is Runteldat.

In the stand up special, the comedian shares stories of his rise to fame.

Close to two hours long, grab some popcorn and a drink as you settle into the laughs from this special.

Eddie Murphy’s Delirious

When it came to comedy, Eddie Murphy was one of the biggest names during the 1980s and 1990s.

The comedian performed stand-up before be began transitioning to film.

While we’re used to the actor and his more recent jokes, Netflix holds a gem within their comedies.

In 1983, Eddie Murphy had his popular stand-up special Eddie Murphy Delirious.

This special was a part of the album that helped the actor/comedian win a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album in 1984.

Dave Chappelle’s Sticks and Stones

Dave Chappelle is considered one of the funniest comedians of all time, and when you watch his material, it’s understandable.

He’s had quite the career with his own comedy sketch series Chappelle’s Show which ran for three years.

Having won multiple Emmy Awards and Grammy Awards, this comedian got his start on stand up which has led us to this black comedy.

In his most recent Netflix special Sticks & Stones, the comedian gives his comedic take on “gun culture, the opioid crisis, and celebrity scandals.”

Chris Tucker’s Live

Chris Tucker is one of the most popular comedians ever.

The world first took notice when he appeared in the film Friday as Smokey.

While this was a popular film in black culture, he soon rose to international fame with the film series Rush Hour which he starred in alongside Jackie Chan.

Having spend years doing stand-up, the comedian got his own Netflix special in 2015 with Chris Tucker: Live.

The comedian shares stories of his childhood and climb to fame in front of an audience in his hometown of Atlanta.

Chris Rock’s Tamborine

If you don’t know who Chris Rock is, where have you been?

Chris Rock began his career by appearing in small roles in a number of films.

He was in Beverly Hills Cop II and New Jack City.

His career really began to change after CB4, a film where he was both a writer, co-producer, and actor.

Once the comedian and actor landed a role on Saturday Nigh Live, his career really began to shoot off from there.

He’s appeared in even more films like Head of State, The Longest Yard, and Grown Ups.

Plus, who could forget his iconic TV series about his life Everybody Hates Chris.

The comedian continues to do big things and that includes his Netflix stand up special, Tamborine.

Going on stage in his hometown of Brooklyn, he gets candid with his audience about his personal life.

Cedric The Entertainer’s Live From The Ville

One of the original kings of comedy, we were originally introduced to Cedric the Entertainer as a host.

While he appeared on ComicView from 1993-1994, he went on to host Def Comedy Jam in 1995.

Since then, you’ve probably seen him in a number of things. He co-starred in The Steve Harvey Show.

You’ve seen him as Eddie Walker in the Barbershop film series.

He’s even had his own sitcom The Soul Man, which was on air from 2012 to 2016.

The entertainer even received his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019.

Three years prior, the comedian set foot on stage to discuss his life and at that time, the political climate of the country.

Cedric the Entertainer: Live from the Ville is now available on Netflix.

Trevor Noah’s Son of Patricia

Trevor Noah might’ve begun his professional career in 2002, but it was through Jon Stewart that he really got his break.

The comedian began working on The Daily Show in 2014.

When it was announced that Jon Stewart would be retiring in 2015, he chose Trevor Noah as his replacement.

Since then, the comedian has been voted one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

More recently, Trevor Noah received his own Netflix special, Son of Patricia.

Growing up as a mixed-boy in South Africa, he shares his stories and the lessons he learned from his mother with his audience.

D.L. Hughley’s Contrarian

Another one of the original kings of comedy, D. L. Hughley is another jack of all trades.

The comedian is also known as a host and TV actor.

In fact, he hosted ComicView the season before Cedric the Entertainer.

While he’s a host, he’s also known as a political commentator.

He’s worked with CNN on D. L. Hughley Breaks the News.

He’s even worked as a correspondent for Jay Leno.

We also can’t forget about his very own sitcom The Hughleys.

When he’s not doing TV work, he’s still lighting up the stage.

In his Netflix stand up special, D.L. Hughley: Contrarian, he combines all his talents and interests by giving a comedic take on politics, pop culture, and more.

Deon Cole’s Cole Hearted

Comedian Deon Cole got his start when be began working as a writer for The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien in 2009.

While this might’ve been the start of his professional career, he truly began honing his craft in the late 1990s.

Cole has since starred in multiple TV series including Angie Tribeca and Black-ish.

Luckily for him, in 2019 he was given his own Netflix special Cole Hearted.

With over an hour of laughs, the streaming site describes his special as his explanation on “the right time to thank Jesus and the wrong time to say ‘welp’.”

Kevin Hart’s What Now

While Kevin Hart has been doing stand up comedy since the early 2000s, it wasn’t until the later half of the decade that we really began to take notice.

While he appeared in films like The 40-Year Old Virgin and in Judd Apatow’s series Undeclared, it was around 2004 with Soul Plane that we really began to take notice.

You might only want to call him a comedian, but he’s definitely in his acting bag with movies like Think Like a Man, Ride Along, and Jumanji.

In one of his best Netflix specials, What Now? goes into the star’s stories about living in suburbia and getting even with 7-year-olds.

Tracy Morgan’s Staying Alive

Welcome the comeback kid!

Tracy Morgan is another comedian who was framed by Saturday Night Live.

He appeared on the show for an impressive seven years before moving on to 30 Rock, a show which he earned an Emmy Award nomination.

In 2014, he was involved in a major car collision and endured several broken bones, including a broken leg.

The actor had to undergo rehabilitation, but he came back better than ever!

In 2018, he landed his own series The Last O.G.

He’s even had numerous stand-up specials, but his latest one was done in conjunction with Netflix.

Tracy Morgan: Staying Alive is the comedians take on life after his accident which includes life in a coma and his second marriage.

Mike Epps’s Only One Mike

Mike Epps got his start in the late 1980s.

The comedian has appeared in quite a few TV shows and films, even appearing on the original Def Comedy Jam.

Since then, he has become well-known for roles in films like Next Friday, Friday After Next, and The Hangover.

More recently, he has starred in another film on this list Dolemite Is My Name.

If you’re in need of some laughs, his Netflix special Only One Mike is perfect.

In the special, the comedian talks about a host of sensitive tops from sexual misconduct to special ed.

Marlon Wayans’s Woke-Ish

Marlon Wayans first began his career as being a duo with his brother.

Alongside his brother Shawn, the duo starred in their TV series The Wayans Bros. as well as movies such as Scary Movie, White Chicks, and Little Man.

Since then, the comedian has taken off on his own, staring in his own personal movies like Sextuplets, another film on this list.

More recently, the comedian has starred in his own Netflix special, Woke-ish, where he talks about a host of topics ranging from the Kardashians to gay rights.

The Original Kings Of Comedy

Get ready for laughs, laughs, and even more laughs from The Original Kings of Comedy.

Originally a tour, the film shows the live stand-up and behind the scenes of the comedians who went on this tour.

Directed by Spike Lee, the tour starred Steve Harvey, D.L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, and the late, great Bernie Mac.

And even while these laughs are from 20 years ago, the humor within these four comedians is timeless.

Katt Williams’s Great America

While Katt Williams has had somewhat of a tumultuous roller coaster ride with his career, he’s definitely earned his spot on this list.

Not only is he a comedian, but he’s known as an actor as well.

He’s appeared in film like Friday After Next and voiced the role of Slickback on The Boondocks.

Starting out doing small gigs to help propel his name, Katt Williams eventually landed on ComicView.

This would lead him to his first stand-up special Katt Williams: Live: Let a Playa Play.

More recently, in 2018 the comedian released a Netflix stand up special Great America where he discusses the sex, politics, and race in America.

Donald Glover’s Weirdo

You might’ve first learned about this man under his stage name Childish Gambino.

While Donald Glover is a musical artist, he’s even more than that.

He’s a writer, producer, director, actor, and comedian.

After attending New York University, he was hired by Tina Fey to be a writer for her the show 30 Rock.

Since then, he’s only gained more and more fame.

He would then appear in the TV series Community before going on to star in Atlanta.

His career hasn’t stopped there either.

He’s appeared in films like Magic Mike, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and voiced Simba in the live remake of The Lion King.

Throughout all that time, he still manages to get on stage in front of a crowd.

On Netflix, you can find his stand-up special Weirdo where he regales the audience with stories that might make him a “weirdo.”

Michael Che’s Michael Che Matters

Michael Che began his comedic career not too long ago in 2012.

Like many others on this list, he got his start on Saturday Night Live.

Working as a writer for the program, he’s also worked as a correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

His career might not be as decorated as the many people on this list, but with only 8 years in the game he’s been putting in work!

He’s been nominated for numerous awards from both the Writers Guild of America and the Emmy’s.

In 2016, he stared in his own stand-up special Michael Che Matters where he discusses all the topics that matter to him.

DeRay Davis’s How To Act Black

While many didn’t see him as a comedian at first, DeRay Davis got his start in 2002 when he appeared in the 2002 film Barbershop.

He would soon go on to gain a few other roles in TV sitcoms like My Wife and Kids.

As me moved further into his comedic role, he appeared in Reno 911, Nick Cannon’s Wild N’ Out, and Entourage.

While he has tons of other films on his roster, we can’t forget about his Netflix stand up special, DeRay Davis: How to Act Black.

Throughout the show, the comedian clues his audience into how he navigates the world as a black man.

Best Black Standup Comedians With Netflix Comedy Specials, Conclusion

Sometimes being black isn’t the easiest, and we often need a break to wind down from our experiences.

What better way to do it than with a bunch of black comedians?

The female and male comedians on this list understand our lives and are able to put a comedic spin on it.

From old timers like Richard Pryor to newcomers like Tiffany Haddish, these comedians will have you laughing all day long.

If you’re still searching for more laughs, check out these black comedies playing on Netflix.