Everyone in the Two Rivers had similar brown hair, brown eyes and tan complexion. Perrin was the same but taller than most and huge arms/shoulders and no facial hair until book 4. Why change his, Nynaeve's and Egwene's race at all? Why was he not jacked and was actually taller than Rand? They even changed Padan Fain's race and Lan's.
The Sea Folk were the only black race mentioned in books. I could overlook the race change if they hadn't done so many other travesties. There is plenty of room to have people of different races outside the Two Rivers but they had to have "diversity" from the beginning. It's not true diversity when it's forced against the story line.
Game of Thrones didn't change the race of the characters and did just fine. WoT has gotten none of the characters right so far....just horrible casting.