Hispanic Heritage Month starts Sunday, and with that, Eastern will be having events to commemorate it.

The first event is Saturday, at the Newman Catholic Center, where an “Independence Dance” will be held from 8 p.m. to 12 p.m.

We at The Daily Eastern News think understanding the reason for a month’s dedication to Hispanic heritage is important within the context of society, and we believe it is important for students and community members alike to participate in the events.

In total, according to a Latino Heritage Month poster, there will be 13 events throughout the month, including some happening after the month technically ends (Oct. 15).

People of Hispanic heritage face a flurry of attacks and threats on them currently, so making this month stand out and feel special should be a priority for us to help them show off their cultures to us.

These commemorative months, for multiple heritages and cultures, come around every year, so it is our duty to make the month feel fresh each time and help spread knowledge of different cultures throughout the public to make sure we are all educated.

It is only through this that we can help make society more inclusive and accepting of different cultures and races.

Especially in the case of Latinx, this month may carry more weight in the U.S.’s future.

CNN reported in July that the Census Bureau in 2015 projected that by 2060, Hispanic people will comprise 28.6 percent of the U.S. population.

Other studies and projections predict that the majority, between 2040 and 2060, will be mixed white-Hispanic people.

This makes the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month have a deep effect for the future of America.

Especially for college-aged students, and kids younger than that, this means the education of different cultures into their minds is important.

This generation of students will be the one running the country at that time, and we will be the ones passing down ideals and norms to our children and grandchildren.

We need to consider the effects we can have on the future of our country.

If we want to lead America toward a more inclusive society, we will take these heritage months seriously and make sure we educate ourselves to understand the feelings, thoughts and stories of others.

The U.S. is changing and will, as predicted, change drastically in the future, with white people no longer being the majority.

We implore everyone to make the most of the events being held at Eastern for Hispanic Heritage Month and consider the long-term effect of learning about the history of this culture.

The Editorial Staff can be reached at 581-2812 or at dennewsdesk@eiu.edu.