Jackson’s Woes Have Nothing to Do With Race

Pity poor Michael Jackson [“Power, Money Behind Jackson’s Attack on Sony, Insiders Say,” July 9]. It is sad to see how far the mighty pop star has fallen, but even worse to witness his reaction to his own demise. Jackson’s depiction of Sony Music Chairman Thomas D. Mottola as an evil, devilish racist is a desperate attempt to stay relevant, but at the expense of his own dignity.

It’s time for Jackson to stop playing the race card and just admit the truth: His time has passed. It’s time to move on.

Darrin Mariott

Santa Monica

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As a black person, my first reaction to hearing Michael Jackson singing the racism refrain of “the white man trying to keep the black man down” was, which one is Jackson? Tommy Mottola is at least five shades darker than Jackson and Jackson probably is five times wealthier. I mean come on, Michael Jackson playing the race card?

Now that’s a switch that even Jackson’s plastic surgeon will have a hard time performing.

Rene Hicks

Los Angeles