It is so important to understand the reality of historical periods instead of just assuming that fictional representations are accurate. If you understand the truths of history, you will be able to tell in fiction when they are misrepresented. Usually fictional stories take the general idea and some details of the period, but then dramatize many others for the purpose of the story or characters. The most important thing to recognize is that a lot of times the dangerous or unfair living situations of minorities (women, people of color, those in poverty etc) are lessened in fiction because the creators might not be comfortable with how to approach those topics. If we don't know the truth though, too many people might be swayed by fiction to accept that things weren't as bad as they really were and not continue to push forward for change.