Smells Like Overthinking
the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual is listed as the first definition for what a character is if you type it into Google.
That said, most characters are individuals, which is noted as single and seperate.
Due to this solidarity in the very nature of the being you intend to portray I would think it obvious that they can be from whoever is manifesting them to the page seeing as their influences and origin are up to you.
No one will be considering you as they get to know your protagonist and your protagonists everything is defined by the parameters you lay out. This means that they are only defined by their skin color if you make them to be.
The archaic Belief of your physique defining you to the extent that would be necessary for yourself to not be okay to create the character in question is one you are applying seperate from anything naturally occurring in a person’s experience of your characters development; Therefore there is only a problem if you make one.
Creativity=Freedom