After attending West Philadelphia High School, he took a job as a dockworker and briefly pursued a career as a boxer.

Blackwell's professional political career began with election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives where he served from 1973 to 1975.

Blackwell also sponsored the Philadelphia's first law to create opportunities for minorities and women to compete to obtain city contracts.

In Congress, Blackwell was a member of the United States House Committee on the Budget and a reliable advocate for President Bill Clinton's economic policies.

The Lucien E. Blackwell West Philadelphia Regional Library at the corner of Sansom and 52nd Street is named in his honor.