Regarding Mindy Kaling's comments about the character of Velma, if you change a character's race, but claim they're not defined by it, then why change it in the first place?

Changing a character's race sends the opposite message that at least to some degree, they are defined by their race, and people who aren't of the race the character is would struggle to identify with them if it wasn't changed, so they need to be "represented". If that's untrue, and one can identify with a character regardless of race because they're defined by their other qualities, what's the point in changing it?

Thoughts?

Kaling's comments, for reference.