Early Black Comedians
Photo Essay
"Momma always told me the best medicine to deal with the illness of a society was through laughter," wrote legendary comedian Dick Gregory in his introduction to the 2006 book Black Comedians on Black Comedy. Given the litany of illnesses that have afflicted African Americans since their arrival in the United States, it's thus unsurprising that many of the country's most successful funnymen are black. Indeed, African Americans have been blunting the pain for centuries, along the way helping transform American comedy from thoughtless entertainment to poignant, razor-sharp commentary. Long before Dave Chappelle there was Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham, a former minstrel who began his career on the Chitlin' Circuit but was selling out records (and appearances at the Apollo) by the time he died. To learn more about African American comedy pioneers, read on.
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Subject Entries
- Actors and Actresses
- Amos ’n’ Andy
- Broadcast Industry, African Americans in the
- Comedians
- Entertainment Industry and African Americans
- Film and Television Depictions of African Americans
- Minstrel Tradition
- Musical Theater
- Television and African Americans
