The original poster's question has come up for me, too. I have noticed a much greater use of "I" when it's the object of a preposition or a sentence -- among newscasters, pundits, actors, and even writers of all skin colors and ethnic origins -- as if people who were once corrected for saying "Me and Mitchell are going out" are now putting "I" everywhere just to be safe, as in "She talked to Mary and I," or, "He sat beside Jim and I." I've observed no racial or ethnic relationship, though most of the offenders do tend to be younger, perhaps under 40 or so.