Ashley Darby Wants You to Support Black-Owned Businesses: Here's How

The next time you go to purchase something, The Real Housewives of Potomac's Ashley Darby wants you to take a few extra moments to do your research and see if there's a way you can support Black-owned businesses to fill that order.

Ashley is a multi-hyphenate and business owner herself, with the restaurant, OZ, and her own athleisure clothing line, ZenGem by Ashley Darby. So it's a personal topic, for sure.

"I kinda love that question. I think that people need to do a little more research. Unfortunately, business loans are not given as frequently to Black business owners and small business owners for minorities, so it will take a little bit of research," she told The Daily Dish in a recent phone interview. "But research and find out and make yourself familiar with businesses owned by Black entrepreneurs because there are many — and they have incredible services, and products, and goods."

She noted that for consumers that may mean stepping out of their comfort zone to show their support. "So, just make that effort," she said. "And I know that we’re creatures of habit and we tend to do what’s comfortable like going to Amazon, but if you consider the bigger picture and you understand how much of an impact it can make buying and patronizing a smaller business, I think that that will be more significant. You realize that your dollar actually goes a lot further to help someone very significantly when you just make the effort and make a conscious purchase."

Ashley is not the first Housewife to open up about the importance of supporting Black-owned businesses. The Real Housewives of Atlanta's Cynthia Bailey discussed this very topic during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen earlier this week. You can check out what she had to say, below.