Hypertension remains a common public health challenge because of its prevalence and increase in co-morbid cardiovascular diseases. Black males have disproportionate pathophysiological consequences of hypertension compared to any other group in the United States. Alterations in arterial wall compliance and autonomic function often precede the onset of disease. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether differences exist in arterial compliance and autonomic function between young, healthy African American males without evidence of hypertension and age and gender-matched non African-Americans. All procedures were carried out non-invasively following rest. Arterial compliance was calculated as the integrated area starting at the well-defined nadir of the incisura of the dicrotic notch to the end of diastole of the radial artery pulse wave. Power spectral analysis of heart rate and blood pressure variability provided distributions representative of parasympathetic and sympathetic modulations, and sympathovagal balance. Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) was calculated using the sequence method. Thirty-two African American and 29 non African American males were comparable in anthropometrics and negative family history of hypertension. T-tests revealed lower arterial compliance, (5.8 ± 2.4 mmHg x sec vs. 8.6 ± 4.0 p = 0.0017; parasympathetic modulation 8.9 ± 1.1 (ln msec²) vs 9.7 ± 1.1 p = 0.0063; BRS 13.7 ± 7.3 (msec/mmHg) vs. 21.1 ± 8.5 p = 0.0007; and higher sympathovagal balance 2.9 ± 3.2 vs. 1.5 ± 1.1 (p = 0.03) in the African American group. In summary, differences exist in arterial compliance and autonomic balance in African American males. These alterations may be antecedent markers of disease and valuable in the detection of degenerative cardiovascular processes in individuals at risk. Hypertension remains a common public health challenge because of its prevalence and increase in co-morbid cardiovascular diseases. Black males have disproportionate pathophysiological consequences of hypertension compared to any other group in the United States. Alterations in arterial wall compliance and autonomic function often precede the onset of disease. Accordingly, the purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate whether differences exist in arterial compliance and autonomic function between young, healthy African American males and non African American males without evidence of hypertension. All data were acquired non-invasively during seated rest. Arterial compliance was calculated as the area under the dicrotic notch of the blood pressure wave. Power spectral analysis of heart rate and blood pressure variability provided distributions representative of parasympathetic and sympathetic modulations, and sympathovagal balance. Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) was calculated using the sequence method. Thirty-two African American and 29 non African American males were comparable in anthropometrics and negative family history of hypertension. T-tests revealed lower arterial compliance, 5.8(2.4) mmHg x sec vs. 8.6(4.0) p = 0.0017; parasympathetic modulation 8.9(1.1) (ln msec2) vs 9.7(1.1) p = 0.0063; BRS 13.7(7.3) (msec/mmHg) vs. 21.1(8.5) p = 0.0007; and higher sympathovagal balance 2.9(3.2) vs. 1.5(1.1) p = 0.03 in the African American group. In summary, differences exist in arterial compliance and autonomic balance in African American males. These alterations may be antecedent markers of disease and valuable in the early detection of degenerative cardiovascular processes in individuals at risk.