*Comedy writers usually don’t get the spotlight they deserve. Considering that it is their hard labor that brings laughter to the world, it is time to give them their due recognition. Here are 5 black comedians that are doing the most when it comes to comedy today. Remember these names and watch-out for their upcoming projects.
1. Jaboukie Young-White
Considered “Twitter’s most retweeted joke teller,” the young up-and-coming comedian is known for taking memes to another level with his sharp wit and socially-conscious humor. He’s not just Internet-famous. Jaboukie has already made some impressive career moves outside the Internet by appearing on The Tonight Show, where his hilarious set made Jimmy Fallon go in stitches. Currently, he is lending his comedy talents by writing for Netflix’s Big Mouth and American Vandal.
2. Travon Free
A writer for Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Travon uses humor to make strong political commentary that resonates with audiences. Travon turned to stand-up comedy after an injury prevented him from pursuing a basketball career. It was his talent for political humor that got him personally hired by Jon Stewart to write for The Daily Show. Currently, he’s developing and writing a TV show for HBO with Insecure’s Issa Rae titled ‘Him or Her’ inspired by his own dating life as a bisexual man.
3. Aisha Muharrar
Comedy enthusiasts know of Aisha Muharrar as the star writer and producer of the hit comedy show “Parks & Recreation” though her contributions to comedy go deeper than that. A English Literature graduate of Harvard University, Aisha’s early foray into comedy included being vice president of the Harvard Lampoon humor magazine. She has also written a humorous examination of stereotypes “More Than A Label”. Currently, her talents can be seen on NBC’s “The Good Place”, which she produces and writes for.
4. Ashley Nicole Black
The “Full Frontal” writer is new to mainstream audiences yet her confidence makes her feel like a pro. That’s because of her experience of doing improve while studying at Northwestern University. After realizing that people responded better to humor than to academic papers, Ashley Nicole decided to embrace her gifts and explore comedy as a career. Her training in improve has helped her in mining humor out of serious situations like political conventions on “Full Frontal” and endeared her to comedy viewers everywhere.
5. Naomi Ekperigin
This stand-up comedian and writer was part of Rolling Stone’s ‘10 Comedians You Need To Know’ last year. Her comedy involves funny observations about her own life that manages to capture audiences’ imagination in seconds. Her 5-minute set on Late Night with Seth Meyers is evidence that Naomi is a comic with a distinct voice. It is her gift of finding comedy in the mundane that got her the opportunity to write of Hulu’s Difficult People and Comedy Central’s Broad City. Watch out for Naomi’s name to some big projects in the future.