The movie portrays the institutionalized racism of the day realistically, down to the segregated schools, workplaces, and dining areas for African-Americans. It also depicts correctly how few options there were for African-Americans to develop in their occupations at the time, despite their aptitude and qualifications.
The overall picture of the difficulties and injustices experienced by African-Americans during the Jim Crow era in "Hidden Figures" is riveting. The film keeps authentic to the experiences of the real-life ladies who served as the story's inspiration, even though some artistic license may have been employed for dramatic impact.