Actually you are both correct.
Okcupid did a similar study. My experience is spot on with this assessment. Rarely do non-black women ever respond to my online dating messages. It's always been that way.
However, in meeting non-black women in person, I've had far more success. In speed dating, soft approaches, and just social networking I've pulled decent looking white and asian women that I know would not bother online.
My hypothesis is because online dating is essentially a buffet, people can screen more logically. In person, attraction is already there and can trump everything.