Introduction: High-quality primary care is critical to help African American families mitigate the effects of social determinants of health that negatively affect child health and well-being. At the core of primary care is a healthy relationship between the parent and provider. This critical review of the literature evaluates what is known about the parent–provider relationship for African Americans.

Methods: We identified 277 studies in Ovid MEDLINE and screened them for inclusion. Data extraction and qualitative synthesis were used to describe what is known and identify themes.

Results:Twelve cross-sectional analyses and one mixed cross-sectional and longitudinal design research studies were identified. Studies identified parent factors, provider factors, parent–provider interaction factors, and health care system factors that affected the parent–provider relationship.

Discussion: The results identify best practices and future research directions for providers, which would improve pediatric primary care quality for African American children.