I think it's principles, although a neoclassical tradition from the '60s rooted in African-American heritage, are far more cool and interesting when put in the perspective of our "struggles" against the man (i.e., JCAHO, health insurance companies, activist nursing groups who are trying to take something away from us...). Dig this, daddios:
Umoja (Unity) To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and to solve them together.
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Nia (Purpose) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Kuumba (Creativity) To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Imani (Faith) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Just substitute "profession" for 'race', 'people' and 'stores, shops, and businesses', and "colleagues" for 'brother's and sisters'.