You could call that kind of representation Tokenism, but gender, ethnic, and identity representation is actually a problem in media that needs to be addressed... and when you're dealing with old media, often that means changing things. Even if it's only a superficial change, it's still important. Slight tangent, but for the sake of perspective: Linko
Well there are plenty of shows that pulled it off, so it isn't that it cannot be addressed. (Just see Spetacular Spider-Man for one example or Annie for another... Yes I know Annie was bad, but that wasn't one of its problems)
As I said I kind of found out why it bugs me. It is the insistence that a pre-existing character MUST be tokenized for the sake of society.
They aren't just playing to the actors they have, creating a twist on the character, doing blind auditions, just wanted to do a different race, expanding the character or anything.
It is the exact same thing happened with Female representation and Zelda/Peach. Where I would have loved games where they kick butt and take names and where they are playable and even spoke out about it. Yet the moment the narrative became "But they MUST become butt kickers the likes no one has ever seen because otherwise their characters are Sexist/ for the sake of fixing sexism" is when I found issue.
I mean I get that there is an implication that "White person = racist" and "Women who doesn't kick butt = Sexist" but I don't think that is what is REALLY bugging me... So what is bugging me about "This thing MUST change to serve the needs of the day" so much.
I really need perspective... I should ask some smarter / More geared people.