Final answer:
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. earned his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology, reflecting his scholarly background that aligned with his civil rights leadership.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. obtained a doctorate in Systematic Theology from Boston University in 1955. His doctoral work and academic success, similar to other prominent figures like W.E.B. Du Bois, who was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University, reflected his profound intellectual capabilities. King's dissertation title was "A Comparison of the Conceptions of God in the Thinking of Paul Tillich and Henry Nelson Wieman." Although King is often remembered for his impactful leadership in the civil rights movement and his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech, his academic credentials reveal a deep scholarly background that informed his activism.