MICHAEL JACKSON - JOE JACKSON SLAMS 'RACIST AMERICANS'

LATEST: The parents of beleaguered singer MICHAEL JACKSON have blamed "racist Americans" for the superstar's negative press surrounding his upcoming child molestation trial.

The troubled THRILLER hitmaker's trial on charges of child molestation, conspiracy and administering an intoxicating agent to a minor begins on Monday (31JAN05).

JOE JACKSON believes his son's reputation has been so badly tarnished in America because the country is racist, while mother KATHERINE is adamant her son would never intentionally hurt a child.

Joe says, "This is just the United States. All the rest of the countries, all over the world, are proud of Michael. It's here we have the most trouble out of them. It is racism."

Katherine adds, "I know my son. My son would never hurt a child. He loved children too much."