JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<ul id="animal">
    <li class="mama"><a href="#">cat</a></li>
    <li class="mama"><a href="#">dog</a></li>
    <li class="mama"><a href="#">Mice</a></li>
</ul>

CSS

.hi { background-color: #f00;}

JavaScript

$('.mama').on('click', function(evt) {
    evt.preventDefault();
    $(this).addClass('hi');
});