Speaking once again at the conference yesterday (July 9th) Jackson said, "I'm tired of the manipulation, "The press has manipulated the truth. They're liars. History books are a lie. You need to know this, you must know this, that all forms of popular music, from jazz to rock to hip-hop, and dance, from the jitterbug to the Charleston, are black. But go down to the corner bookstore, and you won't see one black person on a cover.  You'll see Elvis Presley. You'll see the Rolling Stones. But where are the real pioneers?"  (Jackson obviously doesn't tune into MTV much these days)

"Once I started breaking sales records - I broke Elvis Presley's record, I broke The Beatles' record � once I started doing that, overnight, they called me a freak, a 
homosexual, a child molester,� said an irritated Jackson during his speech. �They said I bleached my skin. They did everything they could to turn the public against me. It's a conspiracy.�  

During his presentation Rev. Sharpton and controversial attorney Johnnie Cochran joined Jackson on the stage. 

Addressing the issue his current skin pigmentation that critics have honed in Jackson said, � I know my race. I look in the mirror, and I know that I'm black."
The root of the problem seems to be that Jackson feels his record label hasn�t promoted his most recent music releases properly. Jackson attributes his lack of sales success to racism, while critics say that it�s the quality of the music that has kept the fans from paying attention to Jackson�s more recent musical efforts. 

What ever the reason may be Jackson seems to have his mind set and it appears that he may continue on his current crusade. 

Read a guest editorial on this controversy written by Red Star Records founder and President Marty Thau who has a current dispute with Sony Music that has some race related issues.