Funnyhouse of a Negro has garnered a mixed critical reaction since its original production in 1964. While many critics found something to praise about Kennedy's writing talent, some were not sure what to make of the play. Most reviewers viewed it as an important exploration of race and identity in contemporary society.

Joshua Billings of The New Yorker is a prime example of the qualified praise often accorded Kennedy. He wrote, "As a rule, I don't take to Expressionism, partly because its built-in weirdness and distortion tend to make the material it deals with seem more important than it really is. The material here couldn't be much more important to begin with, so that's all right, I guess, and the style does seem appropriate. Funnyhouse is a first play and, as such, is quite strong and original."

Other contemporary critics were more straightforward in their praise of...