The Wilmington Ten were a group of nine Black men and one white woman who were wrongly convicted in 1972 in Wilmington, North Carolina. They were charged with a variety of crimes, including arson and conspiracy, in connection with racial unrest in the area. The case was widely seen as politically motivated and the defendants maintained their innocence.

The Wilmington Ten were seen as activists fighting against racial discrimination and seeking social justice in a time of great racial tension in the United States. Their convictions sparked outrage and protests, with many believing that they were targeted for their civil rights activities.

In 1980, after years of appeals and public pressure, their convictions were overturned by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Wilmington Ten case is seen as a symbol of the injustices faced by Black activists and the struggle for racial equality in the United States.