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Master Juba's success was the means of bringing out another
African-American named Johnny Diamond, who hung out around
the old Fly Market of the New York city. Diamond was first
brought into public notice by the enterprising P. T. Barnum,
at Vauxhall Garden, about 1840, when he was 17 years of
age.
Diamond
created quite a furor and P. T. Barnum
traveled with him all over the country, with Diamond dancing
matches with whoever came on. Juba initially lost to Johnny
Diamond in Boston, MA. at the Boylston Gardens, but beat
him there-after and was impressed with him as a dancer,
LANE took him on the road with him. Diamond finally died
after a triumphant career, in Philadelphia, October 29th,
1857.
Some
people confuse Johnny Diamond with Jack Diamond; who was
Master Juba's main white competition.
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