marriage: out of vogue?

when my friend bo cowgill first sent me this washington post article, entitled "marriage is for white people," i got extremely excited because it appeared to be about the cost and benefits of marriage for the black female, which appeals to my inner freakonomist.

however, upon closer inspection, i'm confused. while the author does have statistics to back up her claim that marriage is on the decline for black males and females, the reasons she cites do not seem specific to the african-american experience:

"Among African Americans, the desire for marriage seems to have a different trajectory for women and men. My observation is that black women in their twenties and early thirties want to marry and commit at a time when black men their age are more likely to enjoy playing the field. As the woman realizes that a good marriage may not be as possible or sustainable as she would like, her focus turns to having a baby, or possibly improving her job status, perhaps by returning to school or investing more energy in her career.

As men mature, and begin to recognize the benefits of having a roost and roots (and to feel the consequences of their risky bachelor behavior), they are more willing to marry and settle down. By this time, however, many of their female peers are satisfied with the lives they have constructed and are less likely to settle for marriage to a man who doesn't bring much to the table."

take out the word "black" and this trajectory applies to a good many other demographics, if not a whole generation of people. is the author implying that black marriages are on the decline because of the quality of black men in relation to the black woman's improved socio-economic position ?

"Indeed, he may bring too much to the table: children and their mothers from previous relationships, limited earning power, and the fallout from years of drug use, poor health care, sexual promiscuity. In other words, for the circumspect black woman, marriage may not be a business deal that offers sufficient return on investment."

i'm dissatisfied with this analysis, partly because i would like to see some substantive data, but mainly because, by the author's own admission, this trend in marriage does not seem race-specific--other demographics also show a decline in marriages. given that, i'd like to know why black americans are "leading the charge," so to speak. what's their trajectory relative to other demographics? i'm also really curious about the author's statement that "Often what happens in black America is a sign of what the rest of America can eventually expect." thoughts?

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n.b. can we really have a discussion about marriage coached entirely in terms of business deals and ROI, and without any mention of love and companionship as legitimate reasons for getting married? (i.e. does my inner romantic trump my inner freakonomist?)