Ghetto fabulous is an expression believe to have originated amongst African-Americans living in poor urban areas. Often used in a term of derision, it specifically refers to the mentality and lifestyle of some American ghetto inhabitants and vaguely to the mentality and lifestyle of poor black urbanites. It can be argued that "ghetto fabulous" is a sub-culture within the welfare state and therefore America itself. People, commonly in the urban community, who live a part of their life dependent on assistance are referred to as ghetto. Then a turning point surprisingly changes their lifestyle and they find a way to "strike it rich" to now live a life that is "ghetto fabulous."