JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<table id="table">
  <tr>
    <td>
      <strong>Northwest</strong>
      ...Metal..Silver..Elders...
    </td>
    <td>
      <strong>Northwest</strong>
      ...Metal..Silver..Elders...
    </td>
  </tr>
</table>

CSS

table, td {
  border: solid 1px gray;
  padding: 1em;
}

JavaScript

table.onclick = function(event) {
	highlight(event.target.closest('td'))
}

function highlight(elem) {
	if (elem) elem.style.backgroundColor = 'yellow'
}