Background: A disproportionate burden of prostate cancer (CaP) incidence and mortality is observed for African American (AA) versus Caucasian (CA) patients in the US. Potential underlying reasons for racial disparity include biology, comorbidity profiles, access to health care, adherence to follow-up care and/or treatment aggressiveness. This study examined CaP progression and overall survival (OS) among AA and CA patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined men enrolled in the Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR) Multi-Center National Database between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 2014. Patients with biopsy-detected CaP without metastasis and treated with RP within 12 months of CaP diagnosis were eligible. Biochemical recurrence (BCR) was defined as a PSA value of > = 0.4 ng/mL followed by a subsequent increase. PSADT was categorized as < 3, 3-8.99, 9-14.99, and > = 15 months. Kaplan-Meier estimation curves and multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis were used to examine BCR and OS. Results: A total of 6,785 patients were eligible; 21.5% self-reported as AA and 78.5% self-reported as CA. Median follow-up time was 6.1 years. Comparable distributions of pathologic features at RP and adjuvant treatment over time were observed across race but several comorbid conditions were more common in AA patients including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and other cancer types. In race-specific unadjusted Kaplan Meier analyses, PSADT was an important predictor of BCR and OS for both AA and CA patients (Log rank p < 0.0001 for all KM models). In multivariable analysis, a greater odds of BCR over time was observed for AA versus CA patients (HR = 1.28, CI = 1.11, 1.48, p = 0.0009) after adjustment for D’Amico risk stratum, comorbidity, pathological features, and PSADT. PSADT was a critical predictor of BCR, with worst outcomes at extreme comparison of PSADT categories: HR < 3 vs. > = 15 months= 41.5, CI = 33.6, 51.3, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: In a large racially diverse, longitudinal cohort with equal health care access, there was a striking relationship between PSADT and time to BCR for each racial group and poorer outcomes for AA versus CA patients.