The National Football League have announced plans to play the black national anthem before every game in the opening week of the 2020 season. 

The song called ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ will be played before the traditional American National Anthem ‘The Star-Spangled Banner,' reports ESPN . 

The black anthem was originally written as a poem by African-American civil rights leader James Weldon Johnson in 1899, and his brother John Rosamond Johnson later set the poem to music.

The 2020 season is set to begin on September 10 with the defending Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Houston Texans.

It is also believed the names of victims of systematic racism may be featured on jerseys and helmets.

Earlier this month the league revealed plans to help fight systematic racism by pledging $250 million over the next ten years.