Disclaimer: This isn't directed out anyone in particular. This is directed at the general idea. Wolf.B, this is in no way an "attack" on you or what you believe. I respect you opinion, and anyone who doesn't agree with me.
I'm an African American male (Nigerian and Brazilian decent), and I particularly hate it when people say "Superman's white-male-privileged-ass needs to be another race." One of the reasons why I hate it is because the instant got-to is "hey, here's a smart idea: lets make him black." That is without a doubt the most offensive piece of garbage ever, to me. Being black shouldn't be the equivalent to a color swap in Street Fighter that you pick because the default looks boring. It's downright tokenism along with the "one-gay-BFF" and "wise-old-black-person" BS. Don't paint a character my or any other flavor of the month color just to feel like you're progressive. That shit does more to make the race you've just put on blast uncomfortable. Makes me feel like the dude from
Get Out. You're using the change of skin color as a piggyback. It's still racist AF if you proclaim foolishness like "Clark would be less boring if he were black." What, being an alien demi god looks mundane next to a changed skin pigmentation?
Clark's alienation has nothing to do with the color of his or anyone else's skin. His alienation comes from being a first generation Kryptonian American. It's freakin cultural, man! That's a MUCH wider net in today's climate than shamelessly belittling the REAL issues that people of color face all the time. You're literally taking those real issues and truing a famously white character into one of those other races so you can cash in on the emotional aspect. Do we REALLY not see what's wrong with that?! "Oh, white is out, so lets move on to a more sympathetic and cool race."
THAT'S THE ACTUAL PLOT TO THE MOVIE GET OUT!!!!!!
For the record, I LOVE President Superman. But the reason why that's not a shameless race switch with no substance to it is because of the context. President Obama famously proclaimed that he was from Krypton (in jest), and there was a very mythologized nature to his election (for a number of reasons). He was a real world figure that was positioned for loving parody with a slight bite to it. In comes President Superman. He isn't the idea of "what if Superman were black" he's the idea of "what if President Obama was secretly Superman" with all the implication (good and bad) that come with it. There's also the bonus that he's an alternate version.
I'll also say a resounding NO to the "mixed" angle. That is the media definition of "non threatening ethnicity." You wanna have a mixed race couple in a TV show or movie? Be sure to make one of them mixed so it's not so much of a sore thumb! Media picks "mixed" characters when they want all of the sympathy of a darker skinned character but in a "less threatening" package.
Superman is a space Jewish man, and that's okay. That's actually really, really cool. I don't have to be a Jewish guy to sympathize with, understand, like, and root for Superman. I'm not little white British boy, but I LOVE me some Potter. I'm not a white female, but Katniss is pretty cool.
You know what hero deals with physical race inherently better than Superman? Martian Manhunter. Know what hero can be literally any race or gender he wants? Martian Manhunter. You know who'd be great in a movie? Martian Manhunter. You know who does the fresh-off-the-boat immigrant thing better than Superman? Martian Manhunter. You know who Superman doesn't need to be? Martian Manhunter.
Side note for clarity: My hate for the obligatory race change doesn't extend to movies, some supporting characters (case by case. But it can't just be for the sake of "adding color" because f#%k that saying.), TV, alternate comic worlds (obviously), or previously not (strongly) racially defined characters (Lois' mom is an example. Thus, this allows for a slight "loophole" in her race for me personally). In regards to films specifically, I bend my rule because of an actor's ability. However, my stipulation would be that you don't play the character any differently or in a way that enforces specific preconceptions that come with whatever the changed race is (Perry White is still Perry White even if he's black). This applies to sexuality too, for me.
Rant mode complete. Returning to your friendly neighborhood Superlad now