Diversification and decolonisation efforts have recently gained momentum in mainstream psychology, including in course curricula, high visibility journals, and prestigious societies. We believe that creating a more representative cognitive psychology cannot be accomplished without first acknowledging that our field is shaped by scientific and sociopolitical pressures. These pressures include our desire to conduct rigorous and objective scientific work, our need to obtain research funding, and our aspiration to conduct and disseminate impactful scholarship. From these pressures, it is apparent that scientific practice can often reflect and reinforce existing power structures, including those we oppose. We will highlight examples of how these power structures shape cognitive theories and methodology. We will then argue that actions such as widening participant pools through cross-cultural work, on their own, are not sufficient to address and confront the colonial roots of cognitive psychology. We will advocate for a systematic approach that goes further, not only by welcoming researchers and participants from underrepresented groups, but also by opening the door to difficult conversations about psychological research and practice. We close by offering practical suggestions for diversifying cognitive psychology.