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October is a month filled with many things to look forward to. Some anticipate weather fit for drinking those newly-returned pumpkin spice lattes. Others have already begun to prepare their Halloween costumes (Animal ears and leggings worn as pants? Check!). But for 1 out of 8 women, it’s a month dedicated to awareness of a disease they presently possess, or, if they’re lucky, have beaten. That’s right, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is upon us and it’s time to think pink and positive!

Remember, little things can make a big difference! We’ve rounded up ten spectacular products by brands that are keen on supporting the search for a cure and a woman’s right to pamper herself. Keep one of these feminine luxuries for your personal beauty bag or raise a loved one’s spirits by presenting one as a gift.  On a lighter note, think of it this way: “Finally! A guilt-free version of retail therapy.” View the slideshow to shop for the cause…

Dozie from the inaugural episode of our “Ask A Black Man” series ended up becoming a fan favorite. Some of our readers expressed that he seemed smart and articulated his arguments very well. But just because most of you dug it, that doesn’t mean that everybody was feeling Dozie or some of the comments expressed in the show. Watch as Dozie recalls his thoughts on being a part of the show, his fellow cast members and the venomous comments section.

MORE ASK A BLACK MAN:

• Series Sneak Peek [Trailer]
• Episode 1: The Life of A Single Man
• Episode 1: The Life of A Single Man [Extended Cut]
• Episode 2: The Dating Episode
• Episode 2: The Dating Episode [Extended Cut]
• Episode 3: The SEX Episode
• Episode 3: The SEX Episode [Extended Cut]
• Episode 4: The Marriage Episode
• Episode 4: The Marriage Episode [Extended Cut]

FOLLOW-UP INTERVIEWS:

• Dozie
• Bentley
• Marco
• Brannue
• Skoob
• Mo
• Demetrius
• Birchell
• Zarette
• Devale

MEET THE “ASK A BLACK MAN” CAST

• Host: Kela Walker
• Panama Jackson
• Lester
• Dozie
• Mo
• Skoob
• Bentley Kapten
• Birchell Glenn
• Jeff
• Demetrius Travis
• Devale Ellis
• LC 
• Stephen
• Marco G.
• L.A. 
• Zarette
• Brannue Life 
• George 2.0 

You know what they say, women can’t get along with each other and men and women can’t just be friends. So that kind of limits the friend pool. We all know men with a whole bunch of girlfriends and women who roll with nothing but dudes. But the question is, do you trust these types of people? Would you date someone, a heterosexual someone, who only had friends of the opposite sex? We posed this question to a few people on the street? See what they had to say.

More on Madame Noire!

• Make It Last Forever…Not! Why Couldn’t These Couples Make It Work?
• No He Didn’t! That Time My Friend Got Dumped Over Something Extra Stupid
• WANTED! Stars We Haven’t Seen In A Minute!
• Do You Have Bad Relationship Karma? Here’s How to Shake it…
• Predicting The Future: How To Tell What Your Man Will Be Like in 10 Years
• Where Are They Now? 8 Sassy And Silly Sidekicks From Some Of Our Favorite Black Sitcoms
• Did You Know They Dated (Part IV)? 14 Celeb Couples We Were VERY Surprised By

If you watch Vh1′s “Hollywood Exes,” you know that Andrea Kelly has catch phrases for days. She’s consistently entertaining and oh so real. Madame Noire caught up with our favorite member from the cast to talk about how women in reality tv can indeed get along, what her ex, R Kelly, has to say about her being a part of the show and what she’s got in the works.

More on Madame Noire!

• Okay, I’ll Submit. But Are You Ready To Love Me? (You Know, Like Christ Loved The Church)
• An Open Letter To The Almighty Goatee
• It’s Not About You Boo: Times When Your Sensitivity Gets In The Way
• Bet You Didn’t Know: Secrets Behind The Making Of “How Stella Got Her Groove Back”
• “Girl, You’ve Got a Big ‘Ol Juicy Booty!” 7 Ways Men Hurt Their Chances With Women
• The Danger Of Marrying For Practical Purposes: Why I Think Those Who “Settle” Are Potential Cheaters
• The Thirst Files: She Pulled A Disappearing Act, I Got Desperate

When it comes to relationships some would argue that you need to be completely forthcoming in the information you share. But others suggest there are some things your boo just doesn’t need to know. We took to the streets of New York to find out what secrets you should keep from your partner.

What do you think? Are there certain things you should keep from your partner?

More on Madame Noire!

• Bet You Didn’t Know: Secrets Behind The Making of “Love and Basketball”
• The Marriage Proposal: Is It What He Says Or How He Says It?
• Down With The Brown? Celebrities Who Look Black…But Aren’t
• Long Hair? You Do Care! 6 Ways to Get It to Grow
• What Makes A Good Man “A Good Man?”
• Evening Eye Candy: 7 Delicious NFL Ballers We Can’t Wait To See In September
• Single Black Male: Defending Your Woman’s Honor In An Age Of Disrespectful Men

Shacking up, living in sin, cohabiting, getting to know someone before you make it official–if you ever make it official, are all terms that could be applied to living with someone before you get married. While some are vehemently against the idea for personal or even spiritual reasons, others feel it’s a great way to see what you’re getting yourself into. We took to the streets of New York to see what a couple of pedestrians thought about the subject. See what they had to say.

What do you think, should couples live together first?

More on Madame Noire!

• Bet You Didn’t Know: Secrets Behind The Making Of House Party
• Evening Eye Candy: Channing Tatum
• Keep The Kisses Coming! Why Couples Should Never Stop Smooching
• Men Are Like Chips, You Can’t Have Just One: The 5 Boos You Need In Your Life
• Exposing An Ugly Reality: K. Michelle and Mimi Star In Domestic Violence PSAs
• Single Black Male: Why Do Men Mislead Women?
• Candid Carters: Beyonce Posts Personal Family Pics On Tumblr

If you were to ask Madame Noire herself who was her celebrity crush, you can easily guess her response. Oh yes, it would be Idris Elba: the man we love to love. But instead of getting lost in our dreamy-eyed fantasies about Mr. Elba, we decided to once again take to the streets of New York to find out which celebrities you fantasize about.

More on Madame Noire!

• Komon Ou Ye? 9 Of Our Favorite Celebs of Haitian Descent (And A Few Surprises Of Course!)
• Breaking Down the Point of a Protective Hairstyle: What Exactly Should You Be Protecting?
• When Famous Stars Play Famous People: Who Killed It On-Screen And Who Was A Mess?
• If It’s Broke, Fix It: Why Some Friendships Are Worth Sticking Out
• Consider This: Put The Odds In Your Favor And Date The Next Guy You Meet
• Shoe Shine: Must-Have Metallic Sandals and Pumps

The line between friendship and cut buddy can get blurry sometimes. And several people have ended up in the sheets with someone who was once just a friend. We took to the streets of New Orleans to see if some of these people had done just that. See what they had to say about the subject in the video above. If you’ve been there and done that, be sure to let us know how things worked out for you and your “friend” in the comments section below.

More on Madame Noire!

• Bet You Didn’t Know: Secrets Behind the Making of “New Jack City”
• The Ebony Magazine Drama And Why Black Women Need to Quit Attacking Each Other’s Character
• Evening Eye Candy: Model David Agbodji
• Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Beautiful: Do You Have Pretty Girl Problems
• Almost Doesn’t Count! Celebs Who Never Quite Made It Down the Aisle”
• That Ain’t No Mongolian Hair, Girl: What’s the Real Deal with Your “Virgin” Hair Extensions?
• Figuring Out Fake Friends: 6 Signs That Your Friends Might Be Green With Envy

In part two of our interview with Jenifer Lewis, the veteran actress talks about growing up hungry, how she was able to persevere despite obstacles and what advice she would give to young people who are trying to find their purpose.

More on Madame Noire!

• Did You Know They Dated? 10 Secret Lovers, Temporary Boos and Flings We Were Surprised By
• Let Me Get You Straight, Girl! Advice To The Real ‘Housewives’ Of Atlanta!
• When It Comes To Failed Marriages, Perhaps Expecting A Fairy Tale Is The Problem
• First Date, First Impression: Is It Really You?
• MN Exclusive: Jenifer Lewis On Her Favorite Role, Longevity & Playing The Momma
• Listen Up Fellas! 7 Signs SHE’s Just Not That Into You
• The Business Of Our Periods: Why Are Feminine Products So Darn Expensive?

More on Madame Noire!

• “You Can See How Black People Evolved From Apes” and Other Racially-Charged Comments That Left Me Speechless
• The Business Of Our Periods: Why Are Feminine Products So Darn Expensive?
• Listen Up Fellas! 7 Signs SHE’s Just Not That Into You
• No Way Out? Don’t Blame The Day26 Break Up On Diddy and The “Bad Boy Curse”
• Cute Kid Alert: Diddy’s Girls, Tiny & T.I.’s Kids Celebrate Her B-Day & More
• Single Black Male: Should Women Still Expect Men to Pay for Dates?
• Bet You Didn’t Know: Secrets Behind the Making of “Waiting to Exhale”