LETTERS Jacko wacko on race charge

Never mind that Sony has taken care of Michael throughout his career, providing numerous loans to support his lavish lifestyle. Mottola has a record of supporting African-Americans in the music industry.

But Jackson's phantom beef with his record label is not the issue. The issue is that Michael, of all entertainers, has the gall to pull the race card where he is clearly in the wrong.

"I know I'm black!" he bellowed in Harlem, trying to incite some sympathy from a crowd that knows about true black struggles. But Michael has long been removed from the plight of the black race.

And Michael didn't voice any concerns about Mottola and the industry when he was selling millions of albums, touring worldwide and winning awards.

Jackson's transparent racial ploy is only the latest questionable act by this diminished star. But his use of something as explosive as the race card trumps all of his previous transgressions.

Sadly, Michael will probably leave those comments behind as swiftly as he made them.

But every time he or someone else decides to play race games for their own selfish gains, it makes it that much harder for those with serious claims to gain the ear of the media and the national attention that Michael's frivolous claims already have.

D. Williams, Philadelphia