Crystal Fox
talks spirituality, sisterhood and bold faith
By MICHELLE HOLLINGER repeats it quietly, convincingly. “I go anyway.”
You only notice it if your inner antennae
are attuned. If you’re in alignment with that
part of you fueled by authenticity and self-
love, then and only then will the sacred sis-
terhood energy born within and cultivated
over time recognize itself in the subtle nod
another sister gives you in passing or from
across a crowded public space. Inherent in “going anyway” is walking in faith
so our conversation goes naturally to life pur-
pose. Fox is certain she’s living hers because
it “isn’t just mine, the purpose is God’s,” she
explains. “I don’t want to walk in anything on
my own anymore. As long as I believe I’m led
to walk there, I’m trusting God, not me.”
That sisterhood exchange from one woke
sister to another is a gesture familiar to,
because it flows freely from, Crystal Fox,
aka Hannah the “cursing Christian,” on the
Oprah Winfrey Network’s popular Tyler Per-
ry creation, ‘The Haves and the Have Nots.’
Hers is a deep abiding faith that used to
intimidate her when it emanated strongly
from the nine ministers in her family. In-
timidation morphed into a solid embrace
of “something greater than me” as she got
older and is now her blessed assurance.
Fox exudes the warmth and gentle humor
of an old friend. Our telephone conversa-
tion was peppered with, “preach sis,” and “I
know that’s right,” as we discussed her fan-
adored role, how she navigates fear and the
way sisterhood shows up in her life.
The exuberance in Fox’s voice is partly be-
cause she’s on one of the most popular
television shows on the air. The exuberance
is also full of wisdom and grace; qualities
cultivated over years of living with a divine
awareness that the steps she took were or-
dered.
Of the show, she says, “it’s amazing. Our fan
base is continuing to grow.”
Its manifestation in her life followed a spir-
itual surrender.
“There was a moment…a click, right before
I got this job, where I said, ‘whatever hap-
pens, I’m goin g to trust You,” said Fox, who
called it “a definitive decision” that really
put a dent into her fear. “Nothing can stop
me anymore.”
If she does find herself feeling fear, she goes
“back to the scripture that says we’re not
made of fear. As soon as I realign myself with
Who I committed to trust. I go anyway.” She
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THE SISTER HOOD | SEPTEMBER 2017
Trusting God means listening for and acting
on God’s guidance.
“God has always shown up for me in any
request or question. If I didn’t know where
I was going. I may not have known at the
time, but it was like instinct, discernment,
and something would hit me and guide me
and I know as an adult that that’s God.”
She gets goosebumps when recalling her
connection to the late, great Nina Simone
and playwright extraordinaire, Pearl Cleage,
whose names surface when the conversa-
tion turns to sisterhood.
“My aunt was Nina Simone. I considered her
an aunt but she was my sister. Pearl Cleage
– when I say I love her, I get goosebumps.”
Fox gets sisterhood. She finds it easy to
compliment a beautiful woman and her
description of sisterhood includes a keen
awareness of its silent energy.
“Sisterhood is the recognition of beauty in
each of us; the affirmation that we must
give to each other to uplift ourselves and
others despite who does it for us or not.
You uplift me when I don’t see you,” she ex-
plained.
Her vernacular becomes more relaxed
when she talks sisterhood and its transfor-
mative power.
“You can be in a room full of people and
look into a sister’s eyes…and all they gotta
do is give you the nod. It makes your back
stand up a little straighter and your strut is
a little stronger.”
Inherent in the nod, she says, is a validation
like no other.
“If don’t nobody else got me, you got me.
The nod means keep going. ‘I see you.’”
The transformation of
Octavia Yearwood
By AISHA MANNINGS
Octavia Yearwood is the epitome of turning lemons into lemonade. The Queens, NY
native went from trauma and adversity to empowerment and inspiration. Placed in
the child welfare system as a toddler due to her mother’s drug addiction, Octavia
was kicked out of every foster home until she was around eleven. She found solace
with her foster parents from age 11 to 16, with whom she remains in touch.
Octavia is now an arts educator, motivational speaker, artist, choreographer, and
entrepreneur. Based on her own tumultuous childhood, Octavia developed a pas-
sion to help youth who have experienced traumatic experiences find their light,
and build confidence through expressing their talents and art.
Her book, How the Hell Did You Did That, serves as a guide to help anyone overcome
adversity. Octavia notes, “The tag line of my book is they forget adversity births
legends. I want people to tap into their super selves, and take their power back. Is
Clark Kent, Clark Kent or is he really Superman, or are they the same person? One is
your lower self and one is your higher self. I want people to take accountability and
responsibility for the fact that they are even here and that they have a purpose.”
The book goes through nines steps that helped her get through adversity; includ-
ing forgiveness, creativity, friendship, and love. She uses her book as a manifesto
for those overcoming adversity and travels doing motivational speaking, facilitat-
ing trainings, and workshops on how to support trauma-sensitive youth.
A very shy kid, the love of dance broke Octavia out of that shell, and she was always
dancing at house parties.
“When Janet Jackson’s Velvet Rope tour aired, it changed my life, I learned the
entire choreography in my basement, and I was on a mission to become a profes-
sional dancer,” said Octavia, who started auditioning for every dance production
possible, and was constantly rejected.
A self-taught dancer without any formal training, she finally got her big break by
auditioning for Wade Robson’s MTV dance show; her very first call back. Robson is
a dance protégé of Michael Jackson, and former choreographer of Nsync and Brit-
tany Spears. Watching Robson inspired Octavia to become a choreographer and
add high profile events such as NY Fashion week and Alvin Alley workshops to her
resume.
She landed in Miami in 2012 after realizing that living in NY was a vicious cycle of
being an independent contractor with seasonal work, and struggling to make ends
meet during the off season. When she came to Miami she was living out of her car
for a couple of months, however she was able to expand her company Team Ohhh
and obtain dance teaching contracts with various schools and organizations, such
as the University of Miami. Within those years she has also taken her craft and pro-
gram to Barbados, Haiti, India, Nepal and most recently France where she worked
on a photography series to support her book.
Octavia recently became program director for South Florida Cares Mentoring Move-
ment where she has been able to work and build relationships with notable arts,
education and community organizations such as the Perez Art Museum, ICA Mi-
ami, URGENT Inc, University of Miami, Rush Philanthropic and local artists to bring
transformational experience to the youth of Miami-Dade and Broward County.
For more on Octavia visit www.octaviayearwood.com.
THE SISTER HOOD | SEPTEMBER 2017
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