I would strongly advise against react if you are looking to learn the fundamentals.

By all means learn about raw DOM manipulation with JavaScript first, but do not go directly for react.

We are repeating the same issues we had years ago where people started conflating JavaScript with jQuery - people are conflating JavaScript with react l.

JavaScript is an insanely powerful flexible and widely deployed language. It is so much more than just react/jQuery. It is the Lingua Franca of modern computers.