You're referring to Nikki Giovanni. Not that I follow this stuff, but apparently she is a VERY distinguished American poet.



Here she is in her youth:



According to news reports the wacko murderer (I won't honor him by using his name) was in one of her classes a few years back and even then she knew he was messed up. The reports say that as soon as Giovanni heard of the shootings she suspected that it could involved Mr. Wacko.