Jurnee Smollett's father, Joel Smollett, was Ashkenazi Jewish.
Joel Smollett's Background
Joel Smollett's heritage traces back to ancestors from Russia and Poland. This indicates a European lineage characteristic of the Ashkenazi Jewish population.
To provide a clearer overview of her parents' backgrounds:
| Parent Name | Ethnicity/Race | Ancestry/Background |
|---|---|---|
| Joel Smollett | Ashkenazi Jewish | Russia and Poland |
| Janet Harris | African American | Not specified beyond "African American" |
Understanding Ashkenazi Jewish Heritage
Ashkenazi Jewish refers to a Jewish diaspora population who coalesced as a distinct ethnoreligious group in Central and Eastern Europe. Their cultural and genetic distinctiveness developed over centuries, with origins tracing back to Jewish communities in the Rhineland region of Germany and northern France in the Middle Ages. They migrated eastward, establishing communities across various parts of Eastern Europe, including Russia and Poland. This heritage is often recognized as both a religious and an ethnic identity.
