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.