Black Women Comediennes and Film

Who You Gonna Call?!

      

One of these women are not like the others...

one of these women are kinda the same...

Something is missing in Hollywood, and quite frankly, it is nothing to laugh at. There seems to be a lack of black female characters in leading roles in comedy films. What is happening? I have seen a growth in roles from black actresses on the small screen (which I will be commenting in another article), but I want to call attention to the big screen, where there were quite a few films released lately. Maybe you have seen some of them: Spy, Hot Pursuit, Grandma, The Boss, The Meddler, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, Bridesmaids, Barbershop 3, Trainwreck...

The most popular female lead in a comedy at present, happens to be...

wait for it...wait for it...is...Madea! Many that started off in comedy (Queen Latifah, Whoopi Goldberg...etc.) have branched off into more dramatic roles.   

Whoopi Goldberg / Queen Latifah Mini-Bios

 I can't understand how the most popular female comedienne goes to a man in a dress, and I am not just talking about Madea (can anyone say White Chicks, or Big Momma?). There needs to be a call to Hollywood to recognize our talented women comedians in film, and having them elevate beyond the sidekick status of their male counterparts. While we have many great actresses in the film industry: Halle Barry, Viola Davis, Thandi Newton, Angela Bassett, Alfre Woodard, who are just as funny as their male equals, but when a black female is cast it's usually in an ensemble role - but rarely as lead. In comedy your career can branch off into drama (Queen Latifah), but it isn't as successful the other way around (Halle Barry). If you look at the Eddie Murphy, Wayon Brothers, Kevin Hart, and now Key & Peel - they are the stars of their films (and most times the producers too), demanding more pay and more power. We need more females to take on this role - which can also expand more films for African American's, creating more diversity within the diversity. 

But who do we have out there that can take such a mantel? Back in the day, we had Mom's Mabley, who was crass, honest, and brought a since of character to her act. Whoopie Goldberg gave her honor in a documentary called "I Got Somethin’ to Tell You,"  in which she talks about the legacy of the black comedienne. But Mom's never made it to film, at least not as a leading character, because that was rare enough for any elite actress at the time; a stage occupied at the time with Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll, Ruby Dee, Beah Richards and Eartha Kitt. Even among them, a black female comedian would be looked upon negatively as a buffoon. Even before that, with the first African America Oscar winner; Hattie McDaniel, who's role can be seen as slightly humorous now, was not a comedian at the time of the film.

On television, we have a long list of great actresses that fill the screen, who are both funny and talented; from Tracee Ross (Black-ish), Issa Rea (Upcoming HBO show titled Insecure), Loretta Devine (The Carmichael Show), and Tasha Smith (For Better For Worse) - in fact Tasha get's my vote as being able to carry a movie on her own. She is quick, has great timing, can switch to dramatic at the drop of a hat, and still make you laugh.

There are a lot of stand-up comedienne's out there as well, and the top of the list goes to Whoopi Goldberg, who started paving the way, but has a lot on her plate, and on her resume, and who has done more cameos: For Colored Girls and Top Five. She has produced more comedy films as a lead character than others have. While we have Sherri Shephard, Kim Coles, Luenell, and Sommore who continue to do stand-up, they haven't proven themselves as able to run the show on film (although Sherri has the potential). Queen Latifah seems to have followed in Whoopi's footsteps, and she has moved into the dramatic/romantic fields of late (Bessie).

Leslie Jones to the comedy rescue!

While my eye is on Tasha Smith, we also  have Regina King (always underused - Miss Congeniality 2), Niecy Nash, Tracee Ross, and Leslie Jones (Top Five & the upcoming Ghostbuster's Reboot), to make this happen. Maybe it's the steady paycheck in television that keeps them there, or maybe it's the unfairness of Hollywood in regards to equal pay, but either way, something has to change. There is too much talent being wasted, and opportunities closed, because we are seen as a race filled with drama, but little laughter - true, serious, laughter. It's time we displayed more than our serious, gangster, crime-solving, biopic, slavery side. There are many sides to a female role, and laughter can be a way to show that.  

...and finally, there is also a real truth in all of this: Will a gender-diverse audience be attracted to an African American female lead in a comedy these days? Will it be considered a Chick-Flick? Is there a stereotype here that can't be breached? Are there scripts out there being written for such a group?

...Who You Gonna Call?