Whenever Hollywood is mentioned there is the name Smollett, which is associated with the image of a family of talented actors and performers which have been famous on our screens over the decades. Since Jussie played music in the role of Empire and Jurnee sang in Lovecraft Country and Friday Night Lights, the Smollett brothers have already proved themselves as a creative force. Behind their achievements was however a mentor their father, Joel Smollett Sr.
Joel Smollett was not only the patriarch of a famous family but a man of strong beliefs, a civil rights activist, devoted and loving father, who taught his children the principles of diligence, art, and social equality. His presence was immense, even though he lived a life that was mostly not in the limelight, he influenced the careers and personalities of his six children. He was the support of the family, he made it stable and enabled their creative abilities to bloom.
This blog text provides insight into Joel Smollett and his life. We shall discuss his childhood, his family, his marriage to Janet Smollett and his career. We shall also focus on how he significantly influenced the lives of his children and their performance in entertainment sector. Through the story of Joel, we get to understand better the basis that the Smollett dynasty was established on.
Childhood and Family History
Joel Smollett was born on the 8th of October 1956. His narrative is that of a great culture, characterized by the events of immigration and seeking a superior life. Peter Smollett and Molly Hirschenson were his parents of Russian-Polish Jewish origin. Having been born in Eastern Europe, his family had to endure the persecution and discrimination that was widespread against the Jewish people in the area at the time.
In search of shelter and a new life, the family settled down to the life altering move of immigrating to the United States. They would later on reside in California where Joel would be raised. This move to a new land was an eye opener, which shaped his world perception and instilled his love of social justice. He grew up as an immigrant and, therefore, knew what it was like to be an outsider and gained a sense of empathy towards the marginalized groups. This experience with injustice at a tender age would form part of his identity and activism in the future. He adopted his new American identity without losing the cultural background and strength of his ancestors.
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Marriage and a Family on the Increase
Later, towards the end of the seventies, Joel met Janet Harris and his life became a wonderful one. Janet was a woman of African-American origin with whom Joel shared his zeal to be an activist and a community person. They both encountered each other in the Bay Area, a place of social and political movements, where the mutual ideals resulted in a union of their lives. Their relationship was both direct and intense, and it went beyond racial and cultural boundaries that were very common during that time.
Their bond was their love story that was a witness to their unity and equality. They got married and established their own life, and a beautiful combination of their own Jewish and African-American roots became a household. They moved to settle in the city of Oakland, California and then moved to New York and Los Angeles, bringing up a family based on love, respect to each other and a deep desire to make the world a better place.
Gladly, Joel and Janet had six children of their own, four of them sons and two of them daughters. Their children are:
- Jojo Smollett: The firstborn, August 28, 1977.
- Jazz Smollett: The firstborn and is a girl born on April 1, 1980.
- Jussie Smollett: Born June 21, 1982.
- Jurnee Smollett: Born 1 st October, 1986.
- Jake Smollett: Born July 29, 1989.
- Jocqui Smollett: The last born, August 2, 1994.
Creativity and activism were one in the Smollett home. Joel and Janet supported the idea of their children expressing themselves using the arts and at the same time they were not ignorant of the surrounding world. Home was where there was a free and careless conversation, where there was a discovery of art and where there was unremitting encouragement.
Career and Civil Rights Activism
As his children were establishing their name in Hollywood, Joel Smollett lived a more secretive life, trying to earn money and support his family and defend his ideas. He was a cable splicer, which was a hard and technical task. This stable work gave him the financial stability where his children could follow their artistic desires at such an early age. He had a great example of work ethics and he could not work hard enough to show his children the value of hard work and perseverance.
Other than in his career, Joel was an ardent lifelong activist in favor of civil rights. Based on the experiences of his family of being persecuted and his witnessing of racial inequality in America, he got very engaged in the social justice movements. He was a very active supporter of the equality, as he marched and was involved in the activities of organizations that opposed discrimination.
This spirit of activism was transferred by Joel and Janet to their children. They brought them up as social conscious people and to use their platforms to good. The family was not only committed to activism but it was being practiced. They taught their children the notion that they were obligated to speak against injustice and to defend the rights of everyone. This activism base is reflected in the activities his children go on with today, on and off screen.
Death and Enduring Legacy
Joel Smollett died on January 7, 2015, at the age of 58 in the course of a brave fight against cancer. His demise was a great loss to his relatives and everybody who was acquainted with him. His children, which followed his death, posted touching words in social media about him, who was their hero, their inspiration, and the king of their family.
Everyone expresses their love and support, which brought Jussie Smollett to write a moving tribute, saying that he is very grateful to all his family and you all. I love you daddy. And I swear to be a better man of you. Jurnee Smollett echoed the same by denouncing him as the greatest-ever dad. These praises created an image of a man that was highly loved and whose footprint was insurmountable.
Joel’s legacy is twofold. To begin with, it is a heritage of a devoted family man. And he was the King of the Smolletts, a patriarch who gave unswerving love and support. He would be there with his children and help them to develop their talents, and give them good advice and love. He established a strong, loving and bonded family.
Second, he left his legacy as a committed civil rights activist. He struggled with a more fair and fair world and he left that fervor to the upcoming generation. He showed his children how their art could be activism and how they were heard. His social justice is still being echoed in the work and advocacy of his children. His life has ended, but his soul will live on through the family he created and his values which he supported.
His Children and the effect he had on their lives and careers
The impact of Joel Smollett in the lives and careers of his six children is evident in their lives. He was not merely a provider, he was a mentor, guide and their greatest contributor. He and Janet provided the atmosphere in which artistic talents were cultivated and social awareness was anticipated.
Jussie Smollett
Jussie, the actor that has played Jamal Lyon in Empire, has repeatedly talked about how his father has impacted him. The support of Joel was of paramount importance in the career of Jussie both as an actor and as a musician. In addition to the arts, Joel was an activist and his efforts profoundly influenced Jussie to pursue social justice, especially in his quest to support the LGBTQ+ community and racial equality.
Jurnee Smollett
Another famous actor with strong characters in her projects such as Full House, Friday Night Lights, and Lovecraft Country is Jurnee who bears the legacy of her father. She is an activist since her tender age and she has been associated with the organizations that fight against HIV/AIDS and racial injustices. She has attributed this to both her parents who taught her that she needed to use her platform to bring change. When Joel believes in fighting the underdog, this is a theme that permeates most of her powerful on-screen appearances.
Jake Smollett
Jake got into acting as a child actor in the family sitcom On Our Own and in the movie Eve’s Bayou. He then shifted to culinary world and his work ethic and creativity is evidence of values his father taught him. The life of Jake demonstrates the flexibility and enthusiasm, which was fostered in Smollett household, where children had an opportunity to explore various creative directions.
Though lacking a fraction of his soul, his other brothers, Smollett Jojo, Jazz and Jocqui, have also pursued career in the entertainment industry as actors, producers and entrepreneurs. They are a promise of how the family, the art, the purpose are a powerful tool to Joel.
Memoirs of a Purposeful Life
Joel Smollett led a life of love, conviction and purpose. Although he could be said to have not sought the limelight directly, his influence was expansive. He silently managed to be the driving force behind one of the most successful families in Hollywood, a father, who was dead keen to provide his children with all the chances to achieve success. Simultaneously, his ideas on civil rights were firm, and he was struggling to make this world the place, where equality and justice would be not only an ideal, but a fact.
He has left a legacy not only in the accolades that his children got or the roles that they played. Their character, service to their cause of activism, and the family love they have are in their nature. Joel Smollett taught them that fame or fortune does not contribute to success, but you have made a positive contribution to the world. He was an extraordinary individual whose contribution will still be experienced by the generations to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ethnicity of Joel Smollett?
Joel Smollett was a Russian-Polish Jew. Peter Smollett and Molly Hirschenson are his parents who immigrated to the United States out of Eastern Europe. He engineered a multiracial family together with his African-American wife, Janet.
So what was the profession of Joel Smollett?
Joel Smollett was a cable splicer. His well-paid employment gave his family the economic stability and enabled his children to work in the entertainment sector.
What was the number of children that Joel and Janet Smollett had?
Joel and Janet Smollett were blessed with six children Jojo, Jazz, Jussie, Jurnee, Jake, and Jocqui. Each of them has followed a career in arts and entertainment.
How did Joel Smollett die?
Joel Smollett died on January 7, 2015 of cancer. He was 58 years old.
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