How is Light Privilege

Light and lighting are often taken for granted in our society. But darkness can be both the burden of the very poor or the privilege of the very wealthy.

The opportunity to play on well lit streets or the right to enjoy the peaceful darkness of your backyard can have more to do with economic status and social position than with what is best for a community’s well-being. 

The Idea:

We start from a place of acceptance that privilege exists in society:

“The theory of White privilege, therefore, focuses on how Whites (1) participate in and perpetuate racism, intentionally or not, and (2) are oblivious to the benefits they receive because of racism.”

Amico, Robert, et al. Exploring White Privilege. Routledge, 2017

But the role of light can be complicated. Lighting can provide safety and security but can also contribute to the unrelenting stress of the surveilled. Darkness can be a barrier to opportunity or a chance to enjoy the pastoral beauty of the nighttime environment.

Our theory of Light Privilege, therefore, focuses on how poor lighting quality is created and perpetuated by structural racism, intentionally or not, and that inhabitants of well-lit spaces are oblivious to the benefits they receive because of racism.

Modern understanding of the science of human-centric light combined with rapidly advancing technologies create the opportunity to discuss a new approach to lighting our communities. Understanding how color rendering, visual acuity and circadian sensitivity tie into municipal standards and safety measures can begin to inform how we can integrate technology to create better illuminated environments for people. Environments which support the right to light for everyone.