From the New York Times...
"Jussie and Jurnee still count their mother, Janet Smollett, as their only acting coach. An African-American from New Orleans, Ms. Smollett met their father, Joel Smollett Sr., a Russian-Polish Jew, in the Bay Area, where they campaigned for civil rights.
My mom was in the movement with Bobby Seale and Huey Newton, and one of her first mentors was Julian Bond, Mr. Smollett said of the Black Panther founders and the civil rights leader.
To this day, Angela Davis is one of her dearest friends. Weve spent Mothers Day with Angela...."
So she was their teenage concubine...Go figure