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The purpose of this paper is to find Batak Toba society’s local wisdom of mutual cooperation in Toba Lake area: a linguistic anthropology study.

This research employed qualitative paradigm. As a qualitative research, it employed four methods of data collection, namely in-depth open-ended interview, direct participatory observation, focus group discussion which is often abbreviated as FGD, and written documents. In-depth and open-ended interviews were applied to obtain data from the informants who understand the local wisdom of mutual cooperation, the traditional expressions as the collective memory of mutual cooperation, and the terms of mutual cooperation in Batak Toba society.

Based on the research findings, Batak Toba society has terms for gotong royong (mutual cooperation). They are marsirimpa or marsirumpa (cohesive, in unison, and together). It means that the basic rule of gotong royong (mutual cooperation) in Batak Toba society is the cohesion, synchrony, and togetherness. In other words, gotong royong (mutual cooperation) in Batak Toba society is working cohesively, in unison, and together, which is practiced in the life cycles, livelihood cycles, and public works.

This paper presents a new and significant contribution to the social and economic activity, especially socio-anthropology. People do not consider the implementation of mutual cooperation anymore. They forget that marsirimpa (the local term for mutual cooperation) can be used as a non-material capital to improve the socio-economic development. Marsirimpa can improve the social activity because its main principles are based on the “solidarity” and “harmony.” This research gives contribution economically to the people in the research area (Tippang village) compared to the neighboring area (Bakkara village). People in Tippang village get better income because they believe that many works, for instances, irrigating, paddy planting, until paddy cutting should be done together; they do not need to spend money for workers. Each clan has its own representative to manage irrigation. The activities of land digging and paddy cutting are collectively done. In relation to social anthropology, the tradition around the research area is still maintained because it makes people value the social interaction.

Some Black men in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) may struggle academically in institutions that are racially hostile, unfriendly, and unwelcoming to students of color, or lacking a “critical mass” upon whom Black men can rely for support and advice – predominantly white institutions (PWIs). One hundred and forty Black male collegians who graduated from one of five local PWIs were administered a questionnaire to measure aspects of experiences in college. We test the role that grit plays in explaining the academic success of Black male collegians in STEM disciplines who graduated from four-year PWIs. Findings show sustained effort and hard work over time, despite setback or failure, are, in part, the formula for Black males' academic success at university. Despite where they begin in terms of college readiness, Black males who exert more grit than their peers earn better grades. Finally, isolated or one-time attempts to work hard or study long hours will likely have little to no influence on Black males' academic success.