Crite was most known for his narrative paintings of social life in his neighborhood as well as depictions of Christian themes. He was very prolific and produced an enormous body of work that will sustain his legacy as a painter of the American scene. Over the eight decades of his career, he inspired generations of younger artists who bestowed on him the honorary title of the Dean of African American artists in New England. He learned his craft through the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and in 1940 obtained a draughtsman position at the Boston Naval Yard where he remained until his retirement in 1974. His work can be found in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists, Smithsonian Institution, Museum of African American History, Boston Athenaeum, Phillips Collection, Corcoran Gallery of American Art, Boston Public Library, Newark Museum and others.