JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<div class="item bgwhite"> 
            <div class="carousel-img-full">
                <a href="#"><img src="img/banner1.jpg" alt="" /></a>
            </div>
</div>
<div class="item bgwhite">
            <div class="carousel-img-full">
                <a href="#"><img src="img/banner2.jpg" alt=""></a>
            </div>
        </div>
        <div class="item bgwhite">
            <div class="carousel-img-full">
                <a href="#"><img src="img/banner3.jpg" alt=""></a>
            </div>
        </div>

CSS

.active{
   background:red;
}

JavaScript

$('.item.bgwhite:first').addClass('active');