JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<script src="https://raw.github.com/vitch/jquery-methods/master/date.js"></script>
<li><a id="edit_general" href="#editModal" data-uid="HULK Me">Edit General</a></li>

JavaScript

$(function() {
    $('#edit_general').click(function() {
      alert($(this).data('uid'));

   });
});