Even before protests over the latest killing of a Black citizen by a police officer prompted global protests, turning on the TV to watch the news meant up-to-the-minute updates about the devastation caused by COVID-19 – a guaranteed way to plunge into a pool of upsetting information. Smart people knew that one good hack for leaving the telly on for background noise or to keep you company while maintaining sanity is watching stand-up comedy specials.
Of course, as we continue to watch the biggest civl rights movement in history play out in real time, lots of us are also looking for ways to learn more about that and Black history in general. While there’s plenty to watch that explains disparities in criminal justice and other important topics, it’s important to remember that the Black experience is way more than just struggle and hardship; the Black experience includes a lot of joy and laughter too, even in the face of difficulty. If you could use a laugh right now (um, hello everyone) without sacrificing awareness of what’s happening in the world, check any of these standup specials from Black comics that talk about race and tickle your funny bone, too.
11 Shows and Documentaries to Help You Learn About Racial Justice and Police Brutality
1. Richard Pryor: Live in Concert (1979, Netflix)
No conversation about Black comedians — or comedians period — is valid without paying homage to the GOAT, and in this classic special, available on Netflix, the comedy legend covers everything from race and the police to his immense stardom. (Plus drugs and sex, too.)
2. Dave Chappelle: Killin’ Them Softly (2000, HBO)
Is Dave Chappelle the rightful heir to Richard Pryor‘s throne? Is this particular special Dave’s finest? Is this special even his most thoughtful about race? These are all questions you can answer for yourself, but race and racism are almost always part of his work; whether you like what he has to say or not, he leaves you with something to think about, and some deep belly laughs. Or course, he has many other specials you can check out including Dave Chappelle: Equanimity & The Bird Revelation on Netflix.
Dave Chappelle
3. Def Comedy Jam 25 (2017, Netflix)
Cedric the Entertainer, Sheryl Underwood, Steve Harvey, and more take on pretty much everything in this tribute to the pioneering HBO series, exposing viewers to a wide breadth of perspectives on life — including race and racial identity. By the way, it’s never a bad idea to check out the original series, either, also available on HBO.
4. Gina Yashere: Laughing to America (2013, Netflix)
British, Black, and a second-generation Nigerian woman, Bob Hearts Abishola star Yashere shares jokes rooted in her experience being from a multi-cultural background and how she adjusted moving to the United States.
5. Hannibal Buress: Comedy Camisado (2016, Netflix)
While most of this special isn’t about race at all, it does deal with Burress’ feelings about his role in bringing down Bill Cosby (he joked in 2014 about the many sexual assault allegations against Cosby, sparking the fire that brought Cosby to justice) and the hypocrisy of Cosby’s respectability politics. For that alone, Burress’ routine illuminates varying stances between Black thinkers and people of different generations, blasting away at the mythology that Black people are a monolith.
6. Trevor Noah: Afraid of the Dark (2017, Netflix)
The South African born performer, who was literally born a crime due to apartheid, shares a unique and important perspective on life (and racism) in the United States.
7. Yvonne Orji: Momma, I Made It! (2020, HBO)
The Insecure star’s first standup special deals a lot with her experiences as a second-generation Nigerian black woman, among other topics.