Although impairments in arterial baroreflex (ABR) control of heart rate have been reported in black compared to white subjects, no studies have examined the potential for racial differences in the ABR control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that ABR control of MSNA is impaired in young black men compared to white men. In 12 non‐hypertensive men (7 black and 5 white, age 18–27 yr) ABR control of MSNA was determined using 100μg i.v. of sodium nitroprusside (NTP) followed 1 min later by 150μg of phenylephrine (PE) during supine rest (3 trials/subject). The slope of the relationship (i.e., gain) between changes in diastolic blood pressure and MSNA was determined. Overall sympathetic baroreflex gain was not different between racial groups (blacks: − 1.9±0.2 vs. whites: −2.4 ± 0.4 AU·beat·mmHg−1, p>;0.05). Similarly, sympathetic baroreflex gain for hypertension (PE phase) was also not different between groups (blacks: −1.9±0.3 vs. whites: −1.7±0.2 AU·beat·mmHg−1, p>;0.05). However, sympathetic baroreflex gain for hypotension (NTP phase) was significantly elevated in blacks (−4.0±0.3) compared to whites (−3.2±0.1 AU·beat·mmHg−1, p<0.05). In contrast to our hypothesis, these preliminary findings suggest that ABR control of MSNA is similar or enhanced in young blacks compared to their white counterparts.Supported by NIH Grant R15HL096103 (DMK) and RO1 HL093167 (PJF)