Dating values are salient issues with regard to interpersonal relationships. They provide the basis for the relationship between two people that may help determine how the family will ultimately function. This study is a preliminary analysis that attempted to describe how dating preferences of African-Americans differ with respect to gender and with respect to traditional and non-traditional trait characterizations. African-American male (N=22) and African-American female (N=43) college students completed a questionnaire which assessed four dating preferences. A one-way MANOVA procedure found a gender effect with some associations to traditional standards. Many gender differences were found. Women were more likely to indicate the importance of earning potential than were men and women were more likely than men to believe that the mutual sharing of household duties is important; both of these choices fall into the traditional pattern. However, women were more likely than men to give importance to the non-traditional trait of sensitivity, while the difference for attractiveness was not significant. Overall, the findings from this preliminary study were not consistent with traditional standards. Thus, this research agreed with the literature suggesting that African-Americans have different dating preferences than does the general population. (ABL)