KNOW THYSELF
CODE OF ETHICS
ROOTED IN KNOWLEDGE. GUIDED BY SPIRIT. EXPRESSED WITH PURPOSE.
OUR COMMITMENT
Know Thyself brings African history, culture, identity, and spirituality into conversation through education, film, art, and clothing. We believe knowledge of self carries a responsibility: to examine our actions, honor our cultural inheritance, and treat others with dignity.
This Code of Ethics guides how we research, create, collaborate, and conduct business.
01 — KNOWLEDGE OF SELF
We embrace self-knowledge as an ongoing practice of reflection, learning, and growth. We examine our strengths, acknowledge our shortcomings, and take responsibility for how our choices affect others.
Self-mastery begins with the willingness to be honest with ourselves.
02 — TRUTH AND INTELLECTUAL INTEGRITY
We approach African history and cultural knowledge with seriousness and care. We ground historical claims in credible evidence, acknowledge uncertainty, and distinguish documented history from scholarly interpretation, spiritual belief, and creative reconstruction.
We credit our sources, welcome informed criticism, and correct errors when they come to our attention. Pride in our heritage carries a responsibility to represent it accurately.
03 — RESPECT FOR OUR CULTURAL INHERITANCE
African peoples and their descendants hold diverse histories, languages, identities, and spiritual traditions. We honor that diversity and resist reducing it to a single story.
We treat sacred symbols, ancestral knowledge, and cultural imagery with care. We seek context, respect community boundaries, and avoid presenting ourselves as authorities over traditions we do not fully understand.
04 — SPIRITUAL RESPECT
“Eye Am One with Spirit” expresses our commitment to connection, reflection, and purposeful living.
We respect each person’s freedom of conscience and spiritual path. We share spiritual perspectives without coercion, claims of personal superiority, or promises of guaranteed healing, wealth, or enlightenment.
05 — DIGNITY AND COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY
Our commitment to African people and the diaspora is rooted in dignity, historical understanding, and collective growth.
We reject racism, xenophobia, harassment, exploitation, and dehumanization. We can affirm our identities, discuss injustice, and disagree with others while remaining accountable for our conduct.
06 — PURPOSEFUL CREATION
Our films, educational content, artwork, and garments should reflect thought, meaning, and care.
We create to encourage curiosity, cultural connection, and self-expression. Commercial success must remain consistent with the principles behind the work.
07 — ORIGINALITY AND CREATIVE RESPECT
We respect the work, stories, likenesses, and intellectual property of others. We seek appropriate permission, provide credit, and honor agreements with collaborators.
When we use AI or other digital tools, we remain responsible for the result. We identify generated historical reconstructions so they are not mistaken for authentic artifacts, archival photographs, or documentary evidence.
08 — HUMAN RIGHTS AND FAIR PARTNERSHIPS
Everyone involved in creating, producing, or delivering our work deserves dignity, fair treatment, and safe working conditions.
We expect our partners to uphold applicable labor standards. We reject forced labor, exploitative child labor, trafficking, discrimination, and abuse. Credible concerns about a partner’s conduct warrant review and appropriate action.
09 — RESPONSIBLE PRODUCTION AND QUALITY
We seek to reduce unnecessary waste and make thoughtful choices about materials, production, and packaging.
We describe manufacturing and environmental practices accurately, distinguishing verified practices from goals. We hold our products to standards of care in design, construction, printing, embroidery, and presentation, and address quality concerns honestly.
10 — HONEST CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS
Customers deserve clear information, fair treatment, and respectful communication.
We commit to accurate product descriptions, transparent pricing, accessible policies, and honest information about production and delivery. We avoid misleading claims, artificial urgency, and promises we cannot reasonably fulfill.
11 — PRIVACY AND TRUST
We treat customer, collaborator, and community information with care.
We seek only the information needed for legitimate purposes, limit access appropriately, and respect consent when using personal stories, images, or testimonials.
12 — INTEGRITY IN BUSINESS
We conduct business honestly and honor our agreements. We reject bribery, fraud, hidden conflicts of interest, and deceptive partnerships.
Financial interests, sponsorships, or personal relationships that could influence our recommendations or decisions should be disclosed clearly.
13 — ACCOUNTABILITY AND GROWTH
Our principles must be visible in our actions.
When we fall short, we commit to acknowledging the issue, listening to those affected, correcting what we can, and improving our practices. People should be able to raise concerns in good faith without retaliation.
Knowledge of self requires the humility to keep learning—and the discipline to act on what we learn.
OUR STANDARD
KNOW THYSELF. HONOR YOUR ROOTS. LIVE WITH PURPOSE.
Take care of your family. Do good business. Live righteously.
EYE AM ONE WITH SPIRIT.