80 Wanda Sykes Quotes That Are Funny and Inspiring

Wanda Sykes an American comedian actress and writer first became famous as a writer on ‘The Chris Rock Show’ winning an Emmy in 1999.

She’s been recognized as one of America’s top comedians and has had important roles in TV shows like ‘The New Adventures of Old Christine’ and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ earning Emmy nominations for her guest appearances on Black-ish and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Sykes has also appeared in films and voiced characters in animated movies.

She was born in Virginia and raised in Maryland and has a diverse background with an interesting family history traced back to the 17th century.

Starting her career at the NSA Sykes moved to comedy making her mark in the 90s and continuing to star in various projects including ‘The Upshaws’ on Netflix.

She’s been active in LGBTQ+ rights and other social causes using her platform to advocate for change.

Below are some of the funniest quotes by Wanda Sykes.

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Funny Wanda Sykes Quotes

I enjoy stand-up because it has the biggest reward: instant gratification. You can hear the people laughing. ~ Wanda Sykes.

You know the economy is bad when illegals start complaining that Americans are taking their jobs. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Now, I think the people who are still doing stand-up are doing it because they love stand-up. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I had top-secret clearance and everything. I was working on a couple of projects that would keep me involved in Desert Storm. I was in the mix, which is scary. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Some government workers are dedicated and work hard, but most of them are just waiting to retire. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I felt like I was being attacked, personally attacked – our community was attacked. Now, I gotta get in their face. I’m proud to be a woman. I’m proud to be a black woman. And I’m proud to be gay. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I really can’t pinpoint the one moment when I said I want to be a comic. ~ Wanda Sykes.

When my parents send me emails the first 3 are blank. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I’m a comedian so I’m not waiting around for someone to write a part for me. I don’t have to wait for somebody else to create my next job; I have the ability to basically write my own ticket. ~ Wanda Sykes.

To me, political office should be like jury duty. You should just get a notice in mail one day and be like, I’m Secretary of State next month! ~ Wanda Sykes.

I sat down and wrote some jokes and went to the talent show, got up on stage, fell in love with it and never turned back. ~ Wanda Sykes.

What gets me is when celebrities aren’t allowed to have an opinion on anything political. There’s the whole ‘Shut up and sing’ thing. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I love Costas. He’s knows too much, but he’s a good guy. ~ Wanda Sykes.

See Also: Lenny Bruce Quotes

Best Wanda Sykes Quotes

But sometimes the women writers will pitch something and I’ll hear it, but the men will keep talking. ~ Wanda Sykes.

We never hid anything from the kids. I feel whole again, I really do. I’ve told them, ‘Mommy’s boo-boo is much better now.’ ~ Wanda Sykes.

It’s not until you develop your own voice, your own persona onstage that you become your own comic, who you really are. ~ Wanda Sykes.

If you feel like there’s something out there that you’re supposed to be doing, if you have a passion for it, then stop wishing and just do it. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Don’t bother me while I’m eating, or when I’m coming out of the crackhouse or something. Just let me get going. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Good comics stick around. There are people who have TV shows that might be successful, but comics can’t really fake it. If you say, ‘Hey, I love what you guys are doing – you’re funny,’ then you’re in. It’s legit. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I’m proud to be a woman. I’m proud to be a black woman, and I’m proud to be gay. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I think it’s because my comedy is in your face, and it comes from a place that’s real. ~ Wanda Sykes.

It seems like when I first started, people got into comedy because they wanted to be good comedians. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Since when did I become the spokesperson for nappy-headed hos? ~ Wanda Sykes.

I don’t like the saying keep your friends close and enemies closer. I want my enemy on a different planet. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Actually, I majored in marketing and I have a bachelor of science. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Seriously, I don’t need a gun. I’m easily annoyed. I would shoot people in my house that I invited over. ~ Wanda Sykes.

When my wife and I leave California, I want to have my marriage recognized in Nevada, Arizona, all the way to New York. How can you stop people from loving each other? How can you get upset about loving? ~ Wanda Sykes.

I guess because of my act, people think that I say things they want to say, and that they can just come up and say anything to me. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Also Read: Chris Tucker Quotes

Hilarious Wanda Sykes Quotes

I always want to go back and do stand-up; I like the freedom. ~ Wanda Sykes.

It wasn’t until I became more confident with myself and I put myself forward instead of the jokes; at first it was put the jokes out there and I’m just behind the jokes. ~ Wanda Sykes.

As soon as you say ‘I do,’ you’ll discover that marriage is like a car. Both of you might be sitting in the front seat, but only one of you is driving. And most marriages are more like a motorcycle than a car. Somebody has to sit in the back, and you have to yell just to be heard. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I’m going to leave The Wanda Sykes Show and try to get her job because $5 million ain’t too bad! ~ Wanda Sykes.

I’m like, If you do something dumb, I’ll write about it. If you put something out there, to me it’s like you’re kind of asking for it. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Why don’t you marry another gay guy? That was fun… ~ Wanda Sykes.

All these teenagers tell us how much they want to grow up and then when they do they want to be young again. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Being gay is harder than being black. I didn’t have to come out black. I didn’t have to tell my parents about what its like to be black. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I’m a black, gay woman. I think the only way to make the GOP hate me more is if I sent them a video of me rolling around on a pile of welfare checks. ~ Wanda Sykes.

There’s times when I’m really shy, so these roles that I get to play, they’re how I would love to really be. And that’s why I love doing stand-up, because it gives me the freedom to say what I really want to say. I think that’s why it’s my favorite thing to do. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I knew something was wrong with the economy when the shampoo girl at my salon closed on a six bedroom house. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Ok so there’s no TV shows, no movies going on fine, but I love going on stage and performing stand up so my situation is a little better than someone who’s strictly just an actor or actress. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I have problems with YouTube and things like that, when you catch it mid production. If I’m doing a show and I’m working on a bit and someone’s there with a phone, they record it and put it online – it’s not the finished product. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Usually, there’s nothing being thrown toward the stage or at me. Then I feel pretty good about it. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I watched a lot of comedy growing up. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I always had one goal, and that was to be a real funny stand-up comic, and that’s pretty much what I’m doing. And everything else is kind of like gravy – TV, movies. ~ Wanda Sykes.

When I am outside at night by myself every person turns into a pedophile. So I tend to walk a little faster than usual and then I sprint. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Latest Wanda Sykes Quotes

The first time onstage, a light went on. ‘OK, this is my thing. I’m comfortable here. This is my thing.’ ~ Wanda Sykes.

How can you stop people from loving each other? How can you get upset about loving? ~ Wanda Sykes.

In ’87, I used to do this awful, awful James Brown impression. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Men are dogs. We got to stop it. Men are not dogs. Uh-uh. Dogs are loyal. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I work hard. The staff and crew see how much energy I put into this project, and it makes them step up. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I’m always thinking of stuff; I just don’t sit down and write it. I come up with material more as I go along; if something funny happens, I’ll make a note of it on my phone. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Whatever I talk about is what I’m interested in at the time. Politics are big with me. But being a mom is taking up most of my time. My act is more family-oriented than it is about politics. ~ Wanda Sykes.

You can’t make a woman happy. That’s like trying to cure a fatal disease. The goal is to treat the symptoms so you can comfortably live with the illness. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I’m here today because I refused to be unhappy. I took a chance. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I hate when women compare men to dogs. Men are not dogs. Dogs are loyal. I’ve never found any strange panties in my dog’s house. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I feel today’s society is so judgmental. ~ Wanda Sykes.

My worlds collide. When one things happens, it just starts a domino effect – everything else goes on. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I don’t understand why people really get upset about something that doesn’t affect them at all. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I hope his kidneys fail, how about that? He needs a waterboarding, that’s what he needs. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I like doing a bunch of different things, being all over the place. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Top Wanda Sykes Quotes

Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker. I hope his kidneys fail. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I know every time I fly, I get checked twice: they stop me at security, and then, they get me again at the gate. And last time, it was so bad, they actually made me go through the machine with the luggage. ~ Wanda Sykes.

It’s hard to get fired from the government. You have to, like, kill people. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Yeah, I had top-secret clearance and everything. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I have a funny family, but none of them are remotely in show business. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Mostly everything gets worse before it gets better. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I noticed recently, in the last few shows I did, that I’m starting to get people – not a large group, but quite a few people – who come to see me because they love Curb Your Enthusiasm. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I was funny around my family. My family, they’re pretty funny, too. ~ Wanda Sykes.

There are just so many more laws and rules that apply with marriage that do not come with domestic partnership and also to me it’s the commitment. ~ Wanda Sykes.

A woman would pitch a joke. Nothing. Then a guy would pitch it and everybody would laugh. ~ Wanda Sykes.

My neighbor, she invited me to an Elvis party. I told her I couldn’t come ’cause I’d be too busy making fun of her from behind my blinds. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I’m finally just relaxed and comfortable with who I am. ~ Wanda Sykes.

That word sassy – it haunts me. I keep getting the sassy thing. ~ Wanda Sykes.

Men don’t hear women. ~ Wanda Sykes.

I was really gifted at being able to construct a joke, but it’s like they weren’t even memorable, my first jokes, because they were so about nothing. ~ Wanda Sykes.

If you’re passionate about your work, it makes the people around you want to be involved too. ~ Wanda Sykes.

When life gives you lemons don’t make lemonade, make pink lemonade. Be unique. ~ Wanda Sykes.

If something stinks, I say it stinks. But I try to massage it a little and not be as cutting, come behind it with a joke: Hey, I cut you deep, but now let me put a couple of stitches in you. ~ Wanda Sykes.

It’s easier to rip somebody to shreds while you’re making them laugh. ~ Wanda Sykes.

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Short Biography of Wanda Sykes

Wanda Sykes born on November 7, 1964, in New York City, is known for her roles in comedy and acting.

She become popular on the sketch show In Living Color and led her sitcom, Wanda at Large.

Full Name	Wanda Yvette Sykes
Born	March 7, 1964 (age 59) Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
Medium	Stand-up, television, film
Education	Hampton University (BS)
Years Active	1987–present
Genres	Observational comedy, surreal humor, insult comedy, black comedy, blue comedy, satire
Subjects	American politics, African-American culture, pop culture, racism, race relations, sexism, interpersonal relationships, human sexuality, traditions
Spouse	Dave Hall (m. 1991; div. 1998), Alex Niedbalski (m. 2008)
Children	2
Parents	Marion Louise Sykes, Harry Ellsworth Sykes
Siblings	Harry Sykes
Website	www.wandasykes.com

Sykes has acted in films like Miss Congeniality and voiced characters in SpongeBob SquarePants and The Avengers, showcasing her versatility in both live-action and animated entertainment.

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Quick Facts about Wanda Sykes

• Wanda Sykes was born on March 7, 1964, in Portsmouth, Virginia.
• She grew up in Maryland, showcasing her comedic talents early on.
• Sykes attended Arundel High School in Gambrills, Maryland.
• She performed in school talent shows, sharpening her stand-up skills.
• After high school, she earned a marketing degree from Hampton University.
• Sykes worked at the National Security Agency before diving into comedy.
• Her big break came with “The Chris Rock Show,” contributing as a writer and performer.
• In 2003, she launched her first HBO stand-up special, “Tongue Untied.”
• Sykes has won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special.
• She publicly came out as a lesbian in 2008 and advocates for LGBTQ+ rights.
• Sykes has voiced characters in “Over the Hedge” and “The Nut Job.”
• She joined “Curb Your Enthusiasm” in 2005, playing a version of herself.
• Netflix has featured her specials, including “Not Normal” and “What Happened…Ms. Sykes?”
• Sykes has also worked as a writer and producer on various TV shows.
• Her film roles include “Monster-in-Law” and “Bad Moms.”
• She hosted the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in 2009.
• “The Wanda Sykes Show” aired on Fox, mixing interviews with sketches.
• Her stand-up specials continue to draw fans with her unique humor.
• She received the Comedy Person of the Year award at the Just For Laughs Festival in 2002.
• Sykes voices Granny in the “Ice Age” movies.
• She created and starred in “Wanda at Large” on HBO.
• Her collaborations with Chris Rock include “Pootie Tang” and his TV show.
• Sykes has participated in celebrity roast events.
• She often discusses social and political issues in her work.
• Her HBO special “I’ma Be Me” came out in 2009.
• In 2010, she hosted the BET Awards.
• Sykes married Alex in 2008, and they have twin children.
• She continues to tour as a stand-up comedian.
• Sykes has appeared in Broadway productions like “The Book of Mormon.”
• Her memoir “Yeah, I Said It” was published in 2004.
• She’s made memorable late-night show appearances.
• Sykes has released comedy specials on Comedy Central.
• She supports charities like the Trevor Project and GLAAD.
• Sykes has honored comedians like Richard Pryor in her work.
• She’s vocal about political issues and supports progressive causes.
• Sykes has guest-starred on shows like “Black-ish” and “Broad City.”
• She hosted “Saturday Night Live” in 2002, breaking barriers.
• Sykes’ comedy has influenced future generations of comedians.
• She interacts with fans on social media platforms.
• Sykes and Keith Robinson released the comedy album “Tongue Untied.”

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Top Questions about Wanda Sykes