Why would someone's racial appearance have any bearing on their ability to teach a class?

And remember we aren't even discussing culture and ethnicity where, one might argue, a Sikh from India does have a genuine favourability for a class on the history of Sikhism in India.

Here we are talking about something that my be reduced to nothing more than the superficial folds of an eyelid, skin tone or hair colours and with no regard to actual teaching skills, courseware and preparation.

Well, a few years ago I saw 'racial preference' playing itself out in a nearby school and to this day I have questioned who, if anyone, is to blame? Should you blame the school for simply providing what the consumers demand? The owners for their biased choices?

Ron and Carol own and operate a small but enthusiastic 'Kung Fu Academy' a few blocks away from my home. Now in their mid-40s - they are quite an interesting story as the 'Kung Fu Couple' who first met each other as teenagers attending Kung Fu classes. Soon they were traveling to competitions as an engaged couple and by their early 20s the McManns were arriving at competitions as a married couple. Where else would 'Kung Fu Newlyweds' go on their honeymoon? Shaolin Temple of course! Oh and yes - they arranged their honeymoon plans around Kung Fu contests and conventions in China!

Both of them continued advancing in their martial arts. I know they were ranked and regarded in Canada's highest levels, did well in Europe and there seems to be a mighty impressive wall of trophies, plaques and ribbons on their walls.

Now I don't know much about Kung Fu but having spent much of my youth in Karate classes and later Boxing (and being a coach myself) I can definitely say I recognize quality courses when I see them. Ron and Carol's Kung Fu Academy was the real deal. They had a wonderfully respectful atmosphere, often fun but truly working on the proper skills, techniques and results.

But for Ron and Carol there was a real need to keep the Kung Fu Academy financially viable. Not only did they need the parents to plunk down cash for junior's classes but to get Dad and other adults to sign up and more importantly stay signed up.
See, they were facing competition from a relatively new Judo school that was stealing away potential students. It seemed the Judo master was a 'genuine Japanese expert'.

Which brings us to some of the problems Ron and Carol faced. Despite every accolade, accreditation and trophy on the wall. Despite Ron's impressive knowledge of Kung-Fu history. Despite the fact that both Ron and Carol have been trained by the most legitimate Kung Fu masters in China. Despite all of that Ron's classic Irish looks and Carol's typical Scottish skin tone earned them questions like this:

"So.. Ron, what do you think the real Kung Fu masters do for this and that?"

"Eventually I want to learn the real stuff in China but for now your school will get me started right?"

"A friend of mine is being trained by a totally real Kung Fu expert from Korea!"

"Did you guys know they have the real Shaolin Kung Fu Monks coming to do a show in the city!?"

"I heard the Judo studio is run by a real Judo expert from Japan?"

So you get the idea here. Ron was already aware of the bias but an coincidence confirmed a little of what he already knew. Every so often they would welcome a guest teacher. One month a Fillipino friend dropped by. In fact, he was a former Kickboxing and 'Muai Tai' champ but co-hosted a class. Well the new students were never more excited and Ron noticed an immediate spike in enquiries. Seems some had insisted there was some 'Chinese expert' at the Academy. Funnily enough, one person was heard saying "Aww.. no he's Fillipino.. that's not real Chinese you guys!"

Ron and Carols Kung Fu Academy finally found the lucky break it needed. Jerry Zhao. Jerry was not a Shaolin Monk or even a Kung Fu teacher at all but he had been a pretty decent Kung Fu student back in his 20s. At 38 Jerry hadn't 'Kung Fu'ed' anything for a decade and actually popped into a class for no other reason than to try and get a little exercise.

Ron and Carol quickly developed an after-class friendship with Jerry and insisted he should be teaching classes instead. Although most students will never know this - Jerry took a two week 'crash refresher' of private one-on-one lessons with Ron before appearing in the front of the class as 'Master Zhao' - a well experienced Kung Fu expert all the way from China.

Just to be clear about something - Jerry (Master Zhao) was, it turns out, actually a hell of a good teacher. He was, after all, just teaching the students almost exactly the same things Ron and Carol always had. It's just that he.. well..  he looked Han Chinese and had a rather thick Chinese accent.

The cavalcade of new students was almost overwhelming and more importantly they would often take Master Zhaos words 10 times more seriously than if they came from some 'white guy'. If Zhao told a quick story about his training regime as a boy in China? Students took this as sheer Gospel gold and would spend an hour discussing its importance and meaning after classes!

Who's to blame here?

Are Ron and Carol to blame for racial discrimination? They could have just as easily hired a more qualified Caucasian to teach the same (if not better) lessons to the students?

Is Jerry Zhao to blame for taking unfair advantage of racial biases that worked in his favour?

Are the students (and for some their parents) to blame for their superficial racial prejudice?

I'm still not even sure if I've seen a problem in the first place? We saw that the students, through their own biases, did actually improve their focus and dedication and at the end of the day, Jerrys facial features DID improve their performance and course value.

I've never really settled these questions myself. It even made me question whether I had my own unrealistic 'racial preference' when I decided the Boxing club run by Coach Ross was actually any better than the club run by Coach Tibideaux? Or did I just think an Irish accent was better?

And why did we think Trey Washington was such a great guest Coach that week we all showed up on time and full of intense enthusiasm to follow his every word? I'm starting to think it might have just been because he was a Black American from Philidelphia?

Maybe some readers have thoughts or ideas on this.

Who's fault is this racism after all?