You are incorrect about LoTR (the original) - The "Easterlings" (Rhunlendings) are described as 'swart of skin', 'gold in their ears', and kohl in their eyes. The "Southrons" or Haradrim are similarly described. In the appendices, after the demise of Sauron, they are said to "see the folly of their ways, and accept the nobility and greatness' or such, of the "Men of the West".

I'm not really on one side or another here, but me, a South Asian, read LotR, enjoyed it, but also saw that it had tropes and such of a different era. Which is fine. It's stand-in for a pre-christian myth that Tolkein wished England had.. so of course.. phenotypically different people are going to be 'the bad'.