Its not a race issue, its a an educational issue. Its a cultural training issue.
When, as a kid you are exposed to rote learning as the norm, it can have its downfalls. Looking at geometry or algebra, or the oddities of various languages, rote learning has its place. Rote learning has its place in emergency memory items.
Aviation is far too complex to throw a rote learned individual into an imperfect world where we have to be very flexible at a moments notice.
99% of the time, they will do OK. Its the final 1% that causes issues. Now, put two of those folks together in the same cockpit...............