Mexicans: The Amazing (Non-Existent) Race

The term Mexican no longer refers to a person's nationality. Mexicans are a race. The "Mexican race". And this Mexican race may try to tilt the upcoming elections right here in America. This according to blogger Simon Owens of Bloggasm.

When I criticized Owens's mis-characterization of Mexicans as belonging to one specific race (rather than to a nationality), Owens responded here in comments:

Since when was it not considered a race? I've spent the majority of my life in Chester County Pennsylvania, where there's a very high percentage of Mexican workers who work the Mushroom farms in that area. In fact, the graduating class in Kennet Square was made up of 20% Mexican. Every time a reference was made to them, by both the whites and themselves, they were referred to as "Mexicans," and almost all of these were legal citizens who were able to vote. Comics who specialize in race humor very frequently refer to different nationalities when referring to race, even when the people in question are legal citizens. The term "Mexican" is commonly-used in the United States as a racial label, often by Mexicans themselves, and your semantics games won't change that.

Sigh. There's more (and increasingly nasty) comments from Owens here.

So here's my offer, Simon: Find a legitimate, scholarly source that supports your claim of one Mexican race. (For example, a university professor who does not belong to the Aryan Brotherhood would suffice.) Then send me information in the form of a paper or link. If you can find such a source, not only will I publish the link and admit I was wrong, but I will immediately donate $100 to the charity of your choice.

If it turns out that you're wrong -- as it will -- all you have to do is admit that there is no such thing as a "Mexican race".

Simple enough, right? So do we have a deal?