One more reason that your “black/older” theory doesn’t hold up so well: we are seeing this change/phenomenon across every single county, not JUST in urban or “black” counties, and not just in older but also in Franklin, with OSU, and Hamilton, with three universities.
4 years is a long time for the older folks ~ those death rates are substantially higher than for the 30-55 range. Remember, the first Boomer was born in 1947 ~ 66 years ago ~ http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/09/21/health/a-troubling-trend-in-life-expectancy.html?ref=us ~ interesting display, but it says 65 is toward the top end for blacks! Frankly, i think the big deal is loss of older black voters because they moved to the other list ~
Ghetto isn't the word ~ but they even have Somali operated gas stations!