Moorish Americans are a group of people who identify themselves as descendants of the Moors, a Muslim people who lived in North Africa and Spain during the Middle Ages. The Moorish Science Temple of America, founded by Noble Drew Ali in the early 20th century, is a national and religious organization that is based on the belief that African Americans are of "Moorish" descent. Members of this organization refer to themselves as "Moorish-American Moslems" and "Moorish Scientists". To join the movement, individuals had to proclaim their "Moorish nationality" and were given "nationality cards".

Moorish sovereign citizens are a subset of the sovereign citizen movement in the US. They believe that Moors in the US have sovereign status, meaning they would be exempt from normal laws and regulations. Moorish sovereigns cite a fictitious 1787 treaty between the United States and Morocco to claim immunity from US law. They also claim that African Americans constitute an elite class within American society with special rights. Moorish sovereigns have been known to wear paramilitary-style uniforms with patches of the Moorish flag and to operate vehicles modified to resemble police patrol cars.

It is important to note that while the Moorish Science Temple of America is a religious organization, Moorish sovereign citizens are not recognized as a legitimate religious group by the US government. The Moorish sovereign movement has been associated with criminal acts and has come into conflict with federal and state authorities over their refusal to obey laws and government regulations.