Make sure she looks at it objectively, not from some current political viewpoint. Those who didn’t live during the Jim Crow era — meaning all young folks today — need to read and watch accounts of the Civil Rights movement.
I’ll get flamed for this, but the “Eyes on the Prize” documentary series by PBS is superb, using film from the day. You can watch much of it on YouTube or get it at your local library. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHonvu-HxqE
She also needs to research the negative consequences of the welfare state that grew out of LBJ’s “War on Poverty,” which was really more about race than about the poor.
I worked in those neighborhoods. Just a mess, believe me. A total political boondoggle.
As with all government intervention in society, there are always good and bad effects. Make sure she sees both sides. Sounds like a good assignment.
I may be wrong on this, but was it the civil rights act debate that brought about the famous speech by Daniel Moynihan, regarding the destruction of the American family. It was one of the prescient speeches you can read.