Residents rallied in front of Medgar Evers College in Crown Heights Sunday in support of the black history class bill.

The proposed bill by Sen. Jesse Hamilton would make it mandatory for New York state schools to incorporate black history into their K-12 curriculum.

Supporters say there are many black men and women who paved the way for young people today, but they are not taught about their achievements. One student says he was mocked by his principal for wearing a Malcom X shirt.

"The principal did not want this young man to dignify the name of Malcom X," says Hamilton. "We are saying 'no, no we can't have that.' We have teachers, at P.S. 224 in the Bronx, being told 'you can't teach your children black history, about the Harlem Renaissance or Langston Hughes.' That is unacceptable."

Some say if black history were taught all year round, there would be less bullying, racism and stereotypes about black students.