Anthony was born in the Red Hook Houses in Brooklyn, New York City. His father, Carmelo Iriarte, was born in Manhattan to Puerto Rican parents. Iriarte was of African, Spanish, and indigenous ancestry; some of his roots also traced to Venezuela. His mother, Mary Anthony, is African-American.

His father, Carmelo Iriarte, was born in Manhattan, to Puerto Rican parents, of African, and some Spanish and Indigenous [likely Taíno] descent, along with distant Venezuelan. His mother, Mary Anthony, is African-American.

Carmelo Anthony is one of five children born to, Carmelo Iriarte, his father and Mary Anthony, his mother, in the Brooklyn Red Hook housing projects. His father, Carmelo Iriarte, was of Puerto Rican descent, while his mother, Mary, is African American.

Mother is Black-American, father (deceased) is Puerto-Rican.

Puerto Rican and Mary are his parents. His father was Puerto Rican by his ethnicity and his mother was African American.