Someone like you by Adele

This might be indicative of the type of person I am, but I have another breakup song that I can relate to when it comes to black feminism. “Someone like You” is a song about heartbreak, but for me, it resonates as an exploration of vulnerability that Black women have been dealing with for a long time. It also becomes a reflection on what it means to maintain self-worth and reclaim your story.

The first thing that stands out to me in “Someone Like You” is how open the song is. There is no attempt to hide the pain. This kind of vulnerability connects strongly to Bell Hooks’ argument in Ain’t I a Woman that Black women have historically been denied the space to express emotional complexity. She also emphasizes how systems of oppression dehumanize by limiting who gets to feel and be seen as fully human. In that sense, this song’s willingness to sit with grief without feeling ashamed is quite inspiring.

At the same time, the song’s depth also reminded me of Audre Lorde’s ideas in “Uses of Anger.” Particularly arguing that negative emotions can help bring both power and insight. While “Someone Like You” is more rooted in sadness than anger, it still embodies Lorde’s main point of emotions carrying the truth and should not be suppressed. Adele does not silence her pain or transform it into bitterness. Instead, she expresses it openly, allowing it to exist as something meaningful. Lines like “Never mind, I’ll find someone like you” show a process that acknowledges loss while remaining hopeful. This mirrors Lorde’s belief that confronting and expressing emotion can lead to clarity and growth.

Another aspect of the song that I really like is the pride it gives off. Adele does not beg her former lover to return. She’s actually quite mature about it and offers a bittersweet farewell, wishing the other person well. This sense of self-respect aligns with Alice Walker’s concept of Womanism, which emphasizes self-love, and the importance of embracing all aspects of oneself. Walker’s definition encourages Black women to see themselves as complete and valuable, even in the face of pain or rejection.

What makes “Someone Like You” especially powerful is its universally applicable is it. After my first two songs, I was struggling to figure out which others one I could use and really didn’t want to choose a breakup song because that felt cheap. But even though Adele is not writing from within a Black Lense, the emotional truths she expresses resonate with its core principles. Black feminism is deeply concerned with affirming humanity, challenging emotional suppression, and insisting on self-worth. The song reflects all these ideas, showing that even deeply personal experiences like heartbreak can connect to broader social works like Black Feminism.

For me, listening to “Someone Like You” with the knowledge I know now changed how I understand it. It becomes meditation on negative feelings, dignity, and self-reclamation. It reminds me that vulnerability can be powerful, that emotions can be sources of knowledge, and that even in moments of loss, it is possible to remain whole.