The thing that I haven't seen anyone talk about re: Leah as Annabeth that we really need to is that yeah she's not blonde, so she's not giving any anti-"dumb blonde" representation. But "dumb blonde" is not the same stereotype it was in the early/mid-2000s. I grew up blonde, and I was smart, and I was treated that way, minus a handful of "blonde" jokes on like the school playground. There was no societal expectation that I would be treated dumb because of my hair color, not from my teachers or other adults I encountered. We no longer need the blonde Annabeth Chase to help show kids that they can be smart even if they have light hair. Book Annabeth did it, Elle Woods changed the world already, etc etc.

BUT there is just as much stereotype around "Black women are dumb" as there was around "dumb blondes" in the early/mid-2000s (if not more). It's a lot more racially motivated, and it has a lot more knock-on effects than being blonde has for decades. In addition to historic inequality that has led to Black people (esp girls) being denied access to education and able to like afford to pursue things on their own, people treat Black women as dumb. They just do. Just as stereotypical as the "angry Black woman" is that they are not smart, from stigmatism against AAVE to just general racism, internalized or otherwise. Portraying a Black girl as smart is not unheard of, but it's something society needs to see more of. It's something We need to internalize and accept and take into our everyday lives. Annabeth being smart and Black is representation we need, for all the BIPOC little girls and the rest of the world.

Annabeth no longer needs to be blonde. She is just as strong of a character as a Black girl, and still breaking stereotypes and working to improve the social view of girls. Perhaps even more.

Representation has power. Media has power. I think it's really powerful that Rick (et al) can see that power they're wielding, and use it to continue to make a difference that is positive and keeping with the spirit and message of the series as a whole.