JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://www.ezcodez.com/css/default.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://www.ezcodez.com/css/plugin.css">
<section class="row"> 
    <figure class="one_third"> 
        <div class="portfolio"> 
            <ul> 
                <li><a href="#"><img src="images/content/portfolio/sample1.png" height="175" width="294" alt="sample" class="front" />Random text here</a></li> 
            </ul>    
        </div>    
        <figcaption> 
            <h3>Pixel Crayons</h3> 
            <span><a href="#">HTML</a><small> /</small> 
                <a href="#">CSS</a><small> /</small> 
                <a href="#">Preview</a> 
            </span> 
        </figcaption>    
    </figure> 
    <figure class="one_third"> 
        <div class="portfolio"> 
            <ul> 
                <li><a href="#"><img src="images/content/portfolio/sample2.png" height="175" width="294" alt="sample" class="front" />Random text here</a></li> 
            </ul>    
        </div> 
        <figcaption> 
            <h3>Kyan Media</h3> 
            <span><a href="#">HTML</a><small> /</small> 
                <a href="#">CSS</a><small> /</small> 
                <a href="#">Preview</a> 
            </span> 
        </figcaption> 
    </figure> 
</section>

CSS

div.portfolio ul li a.blue { color:#ff0000; height:1000px; display:block; background:#ff0000 }

JavaScript

$(function () {
    

   var pA = 'div.portfolio ul li a'; 
   
   var $item = $('" + pA + "');
     
   $item.addClass('blue');

});