So here's where we're at.
Nearing the better part of 50 years so far, we've yet to see a key/main/playable character of Color in a franchise as big as Mario. Nintendo as a whole could use better representation, but newer franchises like Arms and Splatoon! have made efforts to feature more diverse rosters at least.
But where does that leave the established Mario cast? Would such a move feel like they're "forcing it" or "catering"? Personally, I think such a far reaching franchise that looks to appeal to people of all walks of life, color and age has a responsibility to broaden the kind of human characters they feature outside of what they've had for almost half a century. I think the next time they choose to add a new human, they should see it as an opportunity to finally diversify a cast that so very sorely needs it.
Where do you guys land?