JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<div class="iHaveBgImage">
  <p>this text should be displayed if bg image is not loaded</p>
</div>

CSS

.iHaveBgImage { background-image:
url('https://s31.postimg.org/yqv51r5xn/6936671_hd_wallpapers_for_ipad.jpg');
color:red;
}

.iHaveBgImage > p {
  position: relative;
  z-index: -1;
}