Just because people are more familiar with the white version it does not make it correct, especially when the truth is a black person as depicted.
Fleisher created a white character. He was influenced by a black woman it seems. At the time the use of black characters as sexy and provocative would not be accepted in those times. American cartoons portrayed black people in a buffoonish way…. Fleisher chose to be successful, so made his little sexy character white.
Sometimes history is not attractive.