Any attempt to upgrade your education/skills is admirable.

You are already aware of the hiring restrictions. Having a CELTA would make your application notable but you would still be more or less in the position of others who are not from the "Big 5" in terms of getting hired and salary/benefits. Therefore, a CELTA may not be a good return on your investment.

What other skills/training/education do you have that may be of use to companies?

Good luck at any rate.

Regardless of your nationality

If you LOOK like a native English person you will have no difficulty in finding a job and CELTA will be beneficial for you...

But seriously I think you have a good chance of landing into a worthy job if you have some  required experience ...

I am a non native but my first language is English. It took me all of two and half months to land a teaching job here. Most important thing is to have faith in yourself. If you are committed to teaching then you need to put your heart and soul into it. China requires English teachers and demand outstrips supply. In the school where I work, there are many other nationalities such as Pakistanis, Singaporeans, Swiss, Ukranians etc. if these people can get jobs, why can't you? Get yourself all the necessary qualifications and start applying for jobs. Don't give up. I sent out close to a thousand applications and got about 8 replies. Make sure your resume is complete and professional looking. All these little bits add up. While most recruiters and training schools want white faces, there are many who will take other nationalities. It helps if you can teach other subjects such as economics, math, physics etc. If you apply for ESL or Oral English teaching positions, you will be competing with thousands of native speaking teachers, it's a no win game. Make teaching English a sub set of your abilities. You will then stand a better chance. Meantime, happy hunting and good luck!

Depends where you want to work...

Most countries won't take you unless you have AT LEAST a CELTA!

Most of China doesn't know what CELTA is.

And, any good reputable place here will look beyond merely the CELTA, into experience and other qualifications (and not really where you're from - unless you've got a strong difficult to understand accent)

if you do the CELTA, it is unnecessary for what most teachers in China are expected to do.

If you want to teach ask yourself:

1) Do you REALLY want to work in China?

2) is it worth the grief that a non-white will go through in order to get a job in China?

if you want to do the CELTA, there are plenty of good jobs available in Africa that will probably pay better than China

i do not intend my comments to be in any way racist, just realistic.

good luck

Dear welcome. You are under minding yourself. Find your confidence. There are many Black people with teaching position here in China. I am from the UK, so a native English speaker out any local accents. I hold a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Business Management, and several HND's, yet  I too, like most others here in China still had to produce an English Teaching certificate, ESOL TESOL, CELTA or whatever, I completed the CELTA proficiency. Yet some time back I was insulted at an interview by a young 18-19 Chinese national working for a multi national company HP, and whom spoke very poor English, that she wished to test my English ability. The theme here seems to be that if you look like a foreigner then you speak the English language. If you feel you really would like to teach then you should obtain some kind of Teaching Certificate.  The rest will fall into place, you many meet a few obstacles along the way, or have to climb over a few hurdles but keep going, often here in china some see a colour, not the ability not the person. Hope that doesn't sound unkind or disrespectful, no offence meant. Good luck girl.

Sounds like some recruiter is trying to sell you an expensive TEFL course?  TEFL certificates are NOT required to teach in China my dear.  Also since you are black and subject to some prejudices in Northern China, I would suggest you apply in Southern China which discriminates less.  Good luck to you Kissy.