Preceded by three introductory essays and a chronology of major events in black religious history from 1618 to 1991, this A-Z encyclopedia includes three types of entries:

• 773 biographical sketches of African American religious leaders, ranging from a paragraph to several pages
• 341 entries on African American denominations and religious organizations (including white churches with significant black memberships and educational institutions)
• Topical articles on important aspects of African American religious life (e.g., African American Christians during the Colonial Era, Music in the African American Church)

A bibliography of 303 major texts on African American religion follows the entries, most of which conclude with a list of references specifically related to their subject.