I'm not so sure they would, the different i sound and soft g make it quite a different sounding word. Some probably would sure, but I think in a not insignificant percentage you'd just get a confused look or an ask for clarification.It’s not, it’s sidestepping the argument lol. Black folk would know exactly what some little prick who called them a “Niger” was up to.
No such confusion with "coon" though, that'd be 100% understanding - which, again (speaking of sidestepping the argument lol), is the point.