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;
}

.highlight {
  background: yellow;
}

JavaScript

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

var selectedTd;
function highlight(node) {
  if (selectedTd) {
    selectedTd.classList.remove('highlight');
  }
  selectedTd = node;
  selectedTd.classList.add('highlight');
}