Its an ignorance. Like many whites who aren't around other races in America Square in Japan don't see many non-Asian people so their perception would be shaped by the media. With the case of Barret. Black people are what they see on T.V. so thats how they make the character. A friend of mine who went to Japan told me your're looked at as exotic because in all truth most foreigners probaly think of white people when they see Americans. Look at Dragonball. Adjudant Black was the leader of the Red Ribbon Army (after he shot General Red) and he was really dark with big lips minstrel style. Mr. PoPo too.