In the case of the author it might be more greed than fear. Producers tell him there's no way the show gets green lit with a white lead, because that's just how show business is now, but they're interested if it's a black lead.
Now if he refuses that, it's just one of a million shows that never came to be and the mob never hears about it to come after them. But he doesn't get any of that sweet Netflix money.
In the case of the author it might be more greed than fear. Producers tell him there's no way the show gets green lit with a white lead, because that's just how show business is now, but they're interested if it's a black lead.
Now if he refuses that, it's just one of a million shows that never came to be and the mob never hears about it to come after them. But he doesn't get any of that sweet Netflix money.