JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jqueryui/1.8/themes/dot-luv/jquery-ui.css">
<ul class="nice-menu">
 <li><a href="">link 1</a></li>
 <li><a href="">link 2</a></li>
 <li><a href="">link 3</a>
   <ul>
    <li><a href="">link 1</a></li>
    <li><a href="">link 2</a></li>
   </ul>
 </li>
</ul>

CSS

.hoverClass { color: red; }
ul { padding-left: 10px; }

JavaScript

$('.nice-menu li').hover(function(e){
   $(this).children('a' , 'span a').toggleClass('hoverClass');
   e.stopPropagation();
}) ;