Oh I completely agree that there are harmful historical associations, like the “Yellow Peril” stereotype, and that we need to be aware of it. I’m just saying that not every color/race pairing is promoting those stereotypes.

I’m wondering if using those pairings in a positive way can subvert the old associations, like how Black Panther reclaims blackness as power, or how Barbie’s pink means something more empowering.

In Power Rangers, all the characters were portrayed as heroes, respected equally by the team. So while the color choices might not have been intentional, the show, for the most part, didn’t show the characters in a negative or stereotypical way. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be aware of broader sterotypes. It just may mean the it wasn’t necessarily harmful in this case.